Kochi Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Kochi AQI Right Now

77

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 16.4 µg/m³

PM10: 76.27 µg/m³

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

Kochi Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.516.4 µg/m³
PM1076.27 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)7.84 µg/m³
NO₂12.44 µg/m³
SO₂0.21 µg/m³
CO1038.56 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Kochi

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Kochi

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.04 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Kochi

  • 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 Kochi Air Quality

Kochi, Kerala's commercial and industrial capital, benefits from one of India's most favourable settings for air quality - a tropical maritime climate with strong sea breezes off the Arabian Sea, abundant rainfall (~3,000 mm annually), and the moderating influence of its famous backwater network. As a result, Kochi is consistently one of the cleanest major cities in India, with annual average PM2.5 levels well below the NAAQS threshold and daily AQI readings frequently in the Good category year-round.

However, the city is not without pollution sources. The BPCL Kochi Refinery at Ambalamugal processes over 15 million tonnes of crude annually, and the adjacent FACT (Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore) plant at Eloor has historically been one of India's most polluted industrial stretches. Shipping emissions at the Cochin Port (Willingdon Island) - from cargo vessels, container ships, and cruise liners - contribute SO2, NOx, and particulate matter along the harbour corridor. The MG Road–Ernakulam Junction traffic corridor experiences congestion-related vehicular exhaust, while ongoing Metro construction and waterfront development generate localised dust.

The winter dry season (December–March) represents Kochi's relatively less-clean period, though "poor" by Kochi standards (AQI 80–120) would be considered excellent in most north Indian cities. The Southwest Monsoon (June–September) and Northeast Monsoon (October–November) together ensure that pollutants are washed out across most of the year. The Eloor industrial area remains a localised hotspot where chemical plant emissions can cause AQI to spike regardless of season.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Port and shipping emissions
  • Industrial emissions (Petrochemical/refinery at Ambalamugal)
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust

Geography: Arabian Sea coast with backwater network; major port city, BPCL refinery and FACT fertiliser plant, tropical maritime climate

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Kochi

Is Kochi's air quality better than other major Indian cities?

Yes - Kochi consistently ranks among India's cleanest major cities. Its coastal location, strong Arabian Sea breezes, and heavy tropical rainfall (~3,000 mm/year) ensure excellent natural ventilation and particulate washout. Annual average PM2.5 is typically well below the NAAQS standard of 40 µg/m³, compared to 100+ µg/m³ in many north Indian cities. However, localised hotspots near the BPCL refinery and Eloor industrial area can have elevated pollution.

What causes air pollution in Kochi?

Kochi's main pollution sources are the BPCL Kochi Refinery and FACT fertiliser plant at Ambalamugal-Eloor, shipping emissions at Cochin Port (Willingdon Island), vehicular exhaust along the MG Road–Ernakulam corridor, and construction dust from Metro and waterfront development. While the citywide AQI is typically Good, industrial pockets and port areas can experience moderate to poor readings.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities