Begusarai Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Bihar, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Begusarai AQI Right Now
Category: Moderate
Dominant Pollutant: pm25
PM2.5: 72.46 µg/m³
PM10: 111.39 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Begusarai Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 72.46 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 111.39 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 22.02 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 16.39 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 6.75 µg/m³ |
| CO | 432.51 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Begusarai
Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.
Health Impact — Begusarai
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 3.3 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.41 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Begusarai
- General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
- Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
- Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
- Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
Understanding Begusarai Air Quality
Begusarai stands apart from every other Bihar city because of its heavy industrial footprint. Known as the 'Industrial Capital of Bihar,' it hosts the Indian Oil Corporation's Barauni refinery-one of India's oldest petroleum refineries-and the Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation's ammonia-urea complex, alongside smaller chemical and manufacturing units. These industrial installations release a continuous stream of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter that forms the baseline pollution layer upon which seasonal emissions are stacked. The Ganges flows along the city's southern edge, generating humidity that promotes secondary aerosol formation from these industrial precursors.
October through January represents the most hazardous period for Begusarai's air quality. Winter inversions over the flat Gangetic terrain trap refinery stack emissions close to ground level, and the petrochemical haze mixes with smoke from surrounding brick kilns, domestic biomass burning, and post-harvest rice stubble burning to create a complex multi-pollutant soup. Unlike most Bihar towns where PM2.5 dominates the pollution profile, Begusarai also contends with elevated SO2 and NOx from the refinery and fertilizer operations, creating distinct health risks including respiratory irritation and acid deposition on nearby agricultural land. Flaring at the refinery, while reduced in recent years, still contributes visible emissions on some nights.
The monsoon season from June through September brings welcome relief as rainfall disperses industrial plumes and suppresses secondary pollutant formation. However, the refinery and fertilizer plants operate year-round, so Begusarai never achieves the clean-air baseline that purely agricultural Bihar towns enjoy during the monsoon. Pre-monsoon months see moderate air quality with winds helping to disperse industrial emissions. The planned expansion of refining capacity at Barauni makes ongoing emission monitoring and control investment critical for Begusarai's future air quality trajectory.
Primary Pollution Sources
- IOCL refinery emissions
- Fertilizer plant discharge
- Vehicle exhaust
- Brick kilns
- Domestic biomass burning
Geography: The industrial capital of Bihar on the northern bank of the Ganges; home to IOCL's Barauni refinery and HFCL fertilizer complex, flat Gangetic terrain
Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January
Frequently Asked Questions — Begusarai
How does the Barauni refinery affect Begusarai's air quality?
The IOCL Barauni refinery is a continuous source of SO2, NOx, volatile organic compounds, and particulates that form Begusarai's baseline pollution. During winter inversions, refinery stack emissions get trapped near ground level, mixing with other pollutants. Unlike purely agricultural Bihar towns, Begusarai never achieves truly clean air even during the monsoon because the refinery operates year-round.
Is Begusarai's pollution different from other Bihar cities?
Yes. While most Bihar cities have pollution dominated by biomass burning and brick kilns, Begusarai has a unique industrial component from the IOCL refinery and HFCL fertilizer plant. This means elevated SO2 and NOx levels in addition to PM2.5, creating a more complex pollutant mix with distinct health implications including respiratory irritation and potential acid deposition.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Lakhisarai AQI — Bihar
- Munger AQI — Bihar
- Khagaria AQI — Bihar
- Sheikhpura AQI — Bihar
- Jamui AQI — Bihar
- Samastipur AQI — Bihar