Palakkad (Palghat) Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Palakkad AQI Right Now

68

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 28.29 µg/m³

PM10: 67.48 µg/m³

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

Palakkad Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.528.29 µg/m³
PM1067.48 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)30.14 µg/m³
NO₂11.07 µg/m³
SO₂0.89 µg/m³
CO284.12 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Palakkad

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Palakkad

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.3 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.12 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Palakkad

  • 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 Palakkad Air Quality

Palakkad is an important commercial and industrial town in Palakkad district, typical of Kerala's inland towns in enjoying significantly better air quality than major north Indian cities of comparable size. The district's core industries - textile mills, rice mills, Palakkad Gap wind corridor - generate localised emissions, but Kerala's coastal and plantation landscape provides natural ventilation and moisture that limit pollutant accumulation.

The dry summer period (April–June) is the annual pollution peak, when reduced rainfall allows vehicle exhaust, rice mill dust, textile industry emissions to accumulate. AQI may reach 60–90 µg/m³ during the hottest, driest weeks. The combination of Kerala's equatorial rainfall regime (two monsoons annually) and relatively small industrial base keeps Palakkad's baseline PM2.5 in the Satisfactory to Moderate range for most of the year.

The southwest monsoon (June–September), delivering 2,000–3,000 mm of rainfall across Palakkad 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. Palakkad's proximity to the Bharathapuzha 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
  • Rice mill dust
  • Textile industry emissions
  • Road dust
  • Agricultural burning
  • Construction dust

Geography: Palakkad Gap city at the mountain pass connecting Kerala to Tamil Nadu; hot semi-arid microclimate; rice and textile industries; Bharathapuzha River

Peak pollution months: April, May, June

Frequently Asked Questions — Palakkad

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

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

How do local industries in Palakkad affect its AQI?

Palakkad's main industries - textile mills, rice mills, Palakkad Gap wind corridor - contribute vehicle exhaust and related emissions, but Palakkad 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