Kanker Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Chhattisgarh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Kanker AQI Right Now
Category: Satisfactory
Dominant Pollutant: pm25
PM2.5: 32.58 µg/m³
PM10: 49.76 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Kanker Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 32.58 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 49.76 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 79.44 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 3.19 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 2.7 µg/m³ |
| CO | 235.64 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Kanker
Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.
Health Impact — Kanker
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.5 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.15 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Kanker
- General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
- Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
- Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
- Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.
Understanding Kanker Air Quality
Kanker (also known as North Bastar), a district headquarters in southern Chhattisgarh, sits amid forested hills along the tributaries of the Mahanadi River. The town's relatively small size and extensive surrounding forest cover provide naturally cleaner air than the industrial cities to the north. Pollution sources are primarily local - vehicular exhaust, road dust, domestic biomass burning, and seasonal agricultural and forest fires.
Winter months (November–February) bring moderate air quality deterioration as temperature inversions trap biomass smoke and vehicle emissions. The hilly terrain can create localised pockets where pollutants accumulate in valley areas. Forest fires during March–May periodically send smoke plumes over the town.
The monsoon season (June–September) delivers excellent air quality with heavy rainfall over 1,300 mm cleansing the atmosphere. Kanker's air quality is among the better in Chhattisgarh, benefiting from its forested setting and distance from the state's industrial zones.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Vehicle exhaust
- Road dust
- Domestic biomass burning
- Forest fire smoke (seasonal)
- Agricultural residue burning
- Construction dust
Geography: District headquarters in North Bastar region of southern Chhattisgarh; forested hilly terrain along the Mahanadi tributary basins
Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February
Frequently Asked Questions — Kanker
What causes air pollution in Kanker?
Kanker's pollution comes primarily from vehicular exhaust, road dust, domestic biomass burning for cooking and heating, and seasonal forest fires from the surrounding Bastar forests. The town lacks significant industrial sources, keeping its overall pollution profile moderate.
Does Kanker have good air quality?
Kanker generally has better air quality than most Chhattisgarh cities due to its forested surroundings, small population, and absence of heavy industry. However, winter inversions and seasonal forest fires can temporarily degrade air quality to Moderate or Poor levels.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Dhamtari AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Gariaband AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Kondagaon AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Rajim AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Rajnandgaon AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Durg AQI — Chhattisgarh