Punalur Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Punalur AQI Right Now

70

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 25.21 µg/m³

PM10: 69.63 µg/m³

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

Punalur Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.525.21 µg/m³
PM1069.63 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)21.5 µg/m³
NO₂9.57 µg/m³
SO₂1.15 µg/m³
CO327.69 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Punalur

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Punalur

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.1 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.1 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Punalur

  • 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 Punalur Air Quality

Punalur sits at elevation in the Western Ghats-influenced zone of Kollam district, where highland topography and heavy orographic rainfall create naturally good air quality conditions for most of the year. The district's core industries - paper mill, plywood, rubber - generate localised emissions, but Kerala's coastal and plantation landscape provides natural ventilation and moisture that limit pollutant accumulation.

Brief dry spells between January and April see Punalur's cleanest air slightly degraded by vehicle exhaust, paper mill emissions, but these episodes are short-lived compared to plains cities. Cool temperatures and persistent moisture from the Western Ghats ensure strong natural pollutant washout. Paper Mill, Plywood, Rubber activities generate localised emissions, but the highland climate disperses them effectively.

The southwest monsoon (June–September), delivering 2,000–3,000 mm of rainfall across Kollam district, provides thorough ambient pollutant washout and is the cleanest air period. The northeast monsoon (October–December) brings another 400–600 mm, further maintaining good air quality into early winter. December through February offers crisp conditions with moderate humidity. Punalur's proximity to the Kallada River ensures that near-surface humidity remains relatively high even during dry spells, which helps suppress fine dust particles compared to arid climate cities.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Paper mill emissions
  • Plywood dust
  • Rubber smoke
  • Road dust
  • Industrial estate exhaust

Geography: Kollam district at the foothills of Western Ghats; major paper and plywood industries; Kallada River; Punalur Paper Mills

Peak pollution months: February, March, April

Frequently Asked Questions — Punalur

What is the best time of year for air quality in Punalur?

The southwest monsoon (June–September) delivers the best air quality in Punalur, with heavy rainfall washing out all particulate matter and suppressing dust. The northeast monsoon (October–December) maintains good conditions into early winter. February and March mark the relatively higher-pollution summer period when vehicle exhaust and dust are at their seasonal peak, but even then Punalur's AQI remains substantially better than Indo-Gangetic cities.

How do local industries in Punalur affect its AQI?

Punalur's main industries - paper mill, plywood, rubber - contribute vehicle exhaust and related emissions, but Kollam district benefits from Kerala's consistent tropical rainfall (2,000+ mm/year) and sea or mountain breeze ventilation that limit industrial impact on citywide AQI. The district lacks the large-scale heavy industry found in north Indian cities, meaning that vehicle exhaust and road dust remain the dominant everyday pollution sources rather than industrial stack emissions.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities