Mahasamund Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Chhattisgarh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Mahasamund AQI Right Now
Category: Satisfactory
Dominant Pollutant: pm10
PM2.5: 29.92 µg/m³
PM10: 64.46 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Mahasamund Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 29.92 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 64.46 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 3.14 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 17.28 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 2.15 µg/m³ |
| CO | 585.45 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Mahasamund
Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.
Health Impact — Mahasamund
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.4 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.13 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Mahasamund
- 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 Mahasamund Air Quality
Mahasamund, a district headquarters in eastern Chhattisgarh, lies in the Mahanadi basin rice belt - one of the state's most productive agricultural regions. The town's pollution profile is strongly tied to the agricultural cycle, with rice stubble burning after the kharif harvest (November–December) being the most significant seasonal source. Rice mills in the town and surrounding area add processing dust year-round.
Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as agricultural burning smoke combines with temperature inversions, vehicle exhaust, and road dust. PM2.5 can reach 80–120 µg/m³ during peak episodes. The flat terrain of the Mahanadi plain offers no natural topographic ventilation to disperse pollutants.
The monsoon season (June–September) brings excellent air quality with heavy rainfall suppressing all dust sources. Mahasamund's distance from Chhattisgarh's industrial corridor means its air quality is generally better than Raipur, Bhilai, or Korba outside the agricultural burning season.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Agricultural residue burning
- Rice mill emissions
- Vehicle exhaust
- Road dust
- Domestic biomass burning
- Construction dust
Geography: District headquarters in eastern Chhattisgarh; part of the Mahanadi basin rice belt east of Raipur on the fertile plains
Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February
Frequently Asked Questions — Mahasamund
What causes air pollution in Mahasamund?
Rice stubble burning after the kharif harvest (November–December) is the primary seasonal pollution driver. Rice mill dust, vehicular exhaust on regional highways, road dust, and domestic biomass cooking contribute year-round. The town lacks major industrial sources, making its pollution profile strongly seasonal.
How does Mahasamund's air quality compare to Raipur?
Mahasamund generally has better air quality than Raipur due to its distance from the Raipur-Bhilai-Durg industrial corridor and smaller urban size. However, during peak agricultural burning season (November–December), localised PM2.5 spikes can temporarily approach Raipur's levels.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Rajim AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Birgaon AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Raipur AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Gariaband AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Kumhari AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Baloda Bazar AQI — Chhattisgarh