Parbhani Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Parbhani AQI Right Now

104

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 48.78 µg/m³

PM10: 104.28 µg/m³

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

Parbhani Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.548.78 µg/m³
PM10104.28 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)4.96 µg/m³
NO₂9.5 µg/m³
SO₂2.2 µg/m³
CO131.34 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Parbhani

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

Health Impact — Parbhani

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.2 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.25 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Parbhani

  • 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 Parbhani Air Quality

Parbhani, a district headquarters in the Marathwada region, sits on the semi-arid Deccan plateau within the Godavari basin. The city's flat terrain along the Purna River, combined with its rain-shadow location east of the Western Ghats, creates a dry environment where airborne dust is a constant challenge. The agricultural economy dominated by cotton, soybean, and jowar drives seasonal burning and ginning-mill emissions.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions over the flat Marathwada plateau trap pollutants from cotton-stubble burning, ginning-mill operations, vehicular exhaust, and construction activity. PM10 levels frequently exceed 150 µg/m³, driven heavily by agricultural dust and crop-residue burning. The dry, rain-shadow climate exacerbates the situation with virtually no precipitation between October and May to wash out particulates.

The monsoon (June–September) provides substantial relief, though Marathwada's rainfall (600–800 mm) is considerably lower than western Maharashtra. Parbhani's location in the Godavari catchment brings some moisture-aided particle settlement. However, the erratic rainfall pattern - a hallmark of rain-shadow Marathwada - means occasional dry spells even during monsoon months can allow dust buildup.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Agricultural burning (cotton and soybean stubble)
  • Construction dust
  • Industrial emissions (cotton ginning mills)
  • Brick kiln emissions

Geography: Marathwada dry plateau in the Godavari basin; semi-arid terrain on the Purna River, rain-shadow region east of the Western Ghats

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Parbhani

How does Marathwada's dry climate affect Parbhani's air quality?

Parbhani's location in the rain-shadow Marathwada region means semi-arid conditions with only 600–800 mm annual rainfall. The dry climate keeps soil and road surfaces parched for 8–9 months, generating persistent dust. Unlike western Maharashtra cities that benefit from ample monsoon rainfall, Parbhani has fewer natural washout days to cleanse the atmosphere.

What role does cotton farming play in Parbhani's pollution?

Parbhani district is a major cotton-growing region. Post-harvest cotton-stubble burning (November–January) releases heavy smoke and PM2.5 into the airshed. Additionally, hundreds of cotton ginning and pressing mills operate during the season, releasing lint fibres, dust, and combustion emissions that significantly degrade air quality.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities