Mathura Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Mathura AQI Right Now

100

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 37.35 µg/m³

PM10: 100 µg/m³

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

Mathura Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.537.35 µg/m³
PM10100 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)8.51 µg/m³
NO₂20.94 µg/m³
SO₂5.25 µg/m³
CO509.82 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Mathura

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Mathura

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.18 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Mathura

  • 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 Mathura Air Quality

Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna and one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities, faces a paradox of spiritual significance and industrial pollution. The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Mathura Refinery - one of India's largest petroleum refineries - has been a central figure in India's environmental history since the 1980s, when its SO2 and NOx emissions were found to be damaging the Taj Mahal just 50 kilometres away. While controls have improved significantly since the Supreme Court's interventions, the refinery remains a baseline pollution source contributing to the regional airshed.

Winter months (October–January) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions over the flat Yamuna floodplain trap refinery emissions, vehicle exhaust from the Delhi-Agra highway corridor, and smoke from brick kilns surrounding the city. Massive pilgrim traffic - particularly during festivals like Holi, Janmashtami, and the Braj 84 Kos Parikrama - brings tens of thousands of vehicles into narrow city streets. Agricultural burning from the surrounding Braj region's fields adds regional haze that blankets the area.

The monsoon (July–September) provides the best air quality as rainfall washes out pollutants and prevailing winds disperse refinery plumes. The Yamuna's monsoon flows also improve the local microclimate. Post-monsoon and pre-winter periods see a rapid decline as crop burning season begins and meteorological conditions shift toward inversion-dominated patterns.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Mathura Oil Refinery emissions
  • Road dust
  • Pilgrim traffic emissions
  • Brick kilns
  • Agricultural burning

Geography: Yamuna River bank between Delhi and Agra; major Hindu pilgrimage centre (Krishna Janmabhoomi), IOCL Mathura Refinery, flat alluvial terrain

Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January

Frequently Asked Questions — Mathura

How does the Mathura Oil Refinery affect local air quality?

The IOCL Mathura Refinery, operational since 1982, emits SO2, NOx, and particulate matter from petroleum processing. While significant pollution controls were implemented after Supreme Court orders (the refinery's emissions were linked to Taj Mahal stone degradation), it remains a baseline industrial source. Winter inversions can trap refinery plumes at ground level, elevating readings in nearby residential areas.

Does pilgrim traffic significantly impact Mathura's air quality?

Yes. Mathura receives millions of pilgrims annually, with peak influxes during Holi, Janmashtami, and Kartik month. Festival periods bring thousands of vehicles - including diesel buses and tempos - into narrow temple-area streets, causing localized AQI spikes. The Braj Parikrama (circumambulation route) attracts heavy traffic year-round.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities