Nashik Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Nashik AQI Right Now

118

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 51.98 µg/m³

PM10: 125.05 µg/m³

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

Nashik Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.551.98 µg/m³
PM10125.05 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)14.78 µg/m³
NO₂2.35 µg/m³
SO₂2.97 µg/m³
CO474.02 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Nashik

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

Health Impact — Nashik

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.4 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.27 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Nashik

  • 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 Nashik Air Quality

Nashik, situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats along the Godavari River, is one of Maharashtra's fastest-growing cities. Its elevation of 560 metres and proximity to the Sahyadri range provide better natural ventilation than many cities, but rapid industrialisation in the Ambad and Satpur MIDC areas - home to electronics, defence equipment, and auto ancillary units - has increased baseline pollution levels.

Winter months (November–February) see the worst air quality as cool temperatures reduce atmospheric mixing. PM2.5 concentrations typically range from 50–100 µg/m³, with spikes during sugarcane trash burning in surrounding districts. The city's growing wine industry and horticultural economy mean less crop burning than grain-producing regions, but post-harvest field clearing still impacts air quality. Nashik's location on the Mumbai-Agra highway (NH-3) brings significant diesel truck traffic through the city.

The monsoon (June–September) brings dramatic improvement with 700+ mm rainfall washing out pollutants. Post-monsoon is typically Nashik's best period before winter sets in. The Kumbh Mela pilgrimage (every 12 years) brings temporary population surges that spike vehicular and waste emissions. Overall, Nashik maintains moderately better air quality than plain cities of comparable size due to its elevation and Western Ghat proximity.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Industrial emissions (Ambad, Satpur MIDC)
  • Construction dust
  • Agricultural burning (sugarcane trash)
  • Road dust

Geography: Western Ghats foothills at ~560 m elevation on the Godavari River; moderate rainfall, surrounded by vineyards and agricultural land

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Nashik

Is Nashik air quality better than Mumbai?

Generally yes. Nashik's annual average PM2.5 is typically 20–30% lower than Mumbai's, thanks to its higher elevation (560 m), smaller industrial footprint, and less traffic congestion. However, winter months can see comparable readings when temperature inversions trap local emissions.

What causes air pollution in Nashik?

Nashik's pollution comes from vehicular exhaust (including Mumbai-Agra highway freight traffic), industrial emissions from MIDC areas at Ambad and Satpur, construction dust from rapid urban expansion, sugarcane trash burning in surrounding agricultural districts, and road dust from unpaved areas in the growing suburbs.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities