Surat Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Gujarat, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Surat AQI Right Now

105

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 54.5 µg/m³

PM10: 106.61 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Surat Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.554.5 µg/m³
PM10106.61 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)4.53 µg/m³
NO₂16.41 µg/m³
SO₂14.33 µg/m³
CO1384.07 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Surat

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Surat

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.5 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.29 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Surat

  • 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 Surat Air Quality

Surat, India's diamond capital and a major textile manufacturing centre, sits on the Tapi River estuary near the Gulf of Khambhat. The city's legendary economic dynamism - processing over 90% of the world's diamonds and running one of India's largest textile industries - creates a dense industrial emission profile that intersects with its coastal geography.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as reduced sea breeze strength and cooler temperatures limit atmospheric mixing. PM2.5 concentrations during this period typically range from 70–130 µg/m³. The GIDC industrial zones at Sachin, Pandesara, and Hazira host chemical, petrochemical, and textile dyeing units that contribute SOx and VOCs. Diamond polishing workshops - thousands in the Varachha and Katargam areas - generate fine silica dust that poses occupational health risks.

The Hazira industrial complex, hosting Reliance Industries, ESSAR, ONGC, and Shell, creates a significant emission corridor south of the city. However, its coastal position and proximity to the Arabian Sea provide natural ventilation that prevents the severe multi-day pollution episodes common in northern plains cities. The monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rainfall (1,100+ mm) that dramatically clears the air. Surat's relatively good solid waste management (among India's cleanest cities) means less waste burning than comparable industrial cities.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Industrial emissions (diamond polishing, textiles, chemicals)
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Port and shipping emissions
  • Road dust

Geography: Coastal city on the Tapi River estuary near the Gulf of Khambhat; humid climate with sea breeze, major diamond and textile processing hub

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Surat

How does diamond polishing affect Surat air quality?

Surat's thousands of diamond polishing workshops, primarily in Varachha and Katargam, generate fine silica and diamond dust. While the ambient outdoor air impact is moderate (most work occurs indoors), occupational exposure is a major health concern for the estimated 800,000 workers in the industry.

What causes air pollution in Surat?

Surat's pollution comes from industrial emissions (textile dyeing, chemical processing, diamond polishing), the Hazira petrochemical complex, vehicular exhaust, construction dust from rapid urban expansion, and port activities. Its coastal location provides better natural ventilation than inland cities.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities