Agra Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Agra AQI Right Now

128

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 56.08 µg/m³

PM10: 141.24 µg/m³

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

Agra Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.556.08 µg/m³
PM10141.24 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)14.82 µg/m³
NO₂17.04 µg/m³
SO₂9.7 µg/m³
CO397.57 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Agra

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

Health Impact — Agra

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.5 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.3 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Agra

  • 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 Agra Air Quality

Agra, home to the Taj Mahal and one of India's most visited cities, faces significant air quality challenges that also threaten its iconic marble monument. The city sits in the Indo-Gangetic Plain along the Yamuna River, sharing the same winter inversion patterns that plague Delhi and other NCR cities, though at somewhat lower intensity due to its smaller industrial footprint.

Winter months (October–January) bring the worst air quality, with PM2.5 concentrations regularly exceeding 180 µg/m³ during November and December. The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) - a designated pollution control area around the monument - has led to the closure of heavy industries within a 10,400 sq km radius, but vehicular exhaust, small foundries, and brick kilns in the periphery continue to contribute. Road dust from the Agra–Delhi corridor (NH-2) and construction activity add to PM10 levels.

The Agra–Mathura industrial belt, home to small-scale foundries and petha (sweet) manufacturing units, generates localised emissions. Tourist vehicle congestion around the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort creates hourly PM2.5 spikes in the old city area. The Yamuna Expressway has improved freight routing but also increased diesel truck traffic through Agra's outskirts. Monsoon months (July–September) provide relief with AQI typically dropping to Satisfactory levels.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Industrial emissions (foundries, petha factories)
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Brick kilns
  • Waste burning

Geography: Indo-Gangetic Plain on the banks of the Yamuna River; flat terrain with winter inversions similar to Delhi but slightly milder due to lower urbanisation density

Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January

Frequently Asked Questions — Agra

How does air pollution affect the Taj Mahal?

Air pollution, particularly SO2 and PM2.5, causes yellowing and discolouration of the Taj Mahal's white marble through chemical reactions and particulate deposition. The Supreme Court of India established the Taj Trapezium Zone banning polluting industries nearby, but vehicular and construction emissions remain a concern.

What causes air pollution in Agra?

Agra's pollution comes from vehicular exhaust (including heavy tourist traffic), small foundries and petha factories in the industrial belt, brick kilns on the periphery, construction dust, road dust from national highways, and waste burning. Winter inversions on the Indo-Gangetic Plain trap these emissions for days.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities