Pattukkottai Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Pattukkottai AQI Right Now

83

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 49.5 µg/m³

PM10: 49.5 µg/m³

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

Pattukkottai Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.549.5 µg/m³
PM1049.5 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)42.41 µg/m³
NO₂10.56 µg/m³
SO₂1.18 µg/m³
CO187.13 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Pattukkottai

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Pattukkottai

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.3 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.26 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Pattukkottai

  • 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 Pattukkottai Air Quality

Pattukkottai's air quality is dominated by its location in the productive Cauvery Delta region. The northeast monsoon from October to December brings substantial rainfall that keeps air clean, but the post-monsoon period from December to February sees severe pollution from paddy stubble burning. After the samba rice harvest, farmers across the delta burn crop residues, creating thick smoke that blankets the town. Rice mills operating throughout the winter add particulate matter from chaff and grain dust.

The town's traditional palmyra industry, which processes palm sugar, jaggery, and toddy, involves boiling palm sap over wood fires. These cottage industries operate year-round but peak during the dry season from January to May, contributing to PM2.5 emissions. Being situated about 20 km from the coast, Pattukkottai receives moderate sea breeze benefits during afternoons, which helps disperse pollutants somewhat better than inland delta towns.

Summer months from March to May bring hot, humid conditions typical of coastal Tamil Nadu. While agricultural burning subsides, increased vehicular traffic during the mango season and construction activities generate dust pollution. Salt pans in nearby coastal areas, while not directly polluting, can contribute to particulate matter during high winds. The southwest monsoon from June to September brings moderate rainfall and the year's best air quality, though less rain than the northeast monsoon period.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Crop residue burning
  • Palmyra processing
  • Rice mills
  • Vehicular emissions
  • Coastal industries

Geography: Coastal agricultural town in the Cauvery Delta, known for paddy cultivation and palmyra-based products.

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Pattukkottai

What makes Pattukkottai's air quality worse during harvest season?

Large-scale paddy stubble burning across the Cauvery Delta after winter harvest creates dense smoke. This combines with emissions from rice mills processing the harvest and palmyra processing units to create peak pollution from December to February.

Does Pattukkottai's coastal proximity help with air quality?

Yes, being about 20 km from the coast, Pattukkottai receives afternoon sea breezes that help disperse pollutants. However, during heavy agricultural burning season, even these breezes cannot fully mitigate the regional smoke pollution.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities