Bardhaman (Burdwan) Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Bardhaman AQI Right Now

79

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 42.01 µg/m³

PM10: 78.8 µg/m³

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

Bardhaman Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.542.01 µg/m³
PM1078.8 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)16.64 µg/m³
NO₂23.59 µg/m³
SO₂4.99 µg/m³
CO874.92 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Bardhaman

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Bardhaman

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.9 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.21 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Bardhaman

  • 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 Bardhaman Air Quality

Bardhaman (Burdwan), the historic district headquarters on the Damodar River plain, sits at the agricultural heart of West Bengal. The city is surrounded by one of India's most productive rice-growing regions, and dozens of rice mills operating during the post-harvest season (November–March) contribute husking dust and boiler emissions to the local atmosphere. The flat alluvial terrain of the lower Damodar valley provides no topographic barriers to trap or disperse pollutants, making wind conditions the primary determinant of daily air quality.

Winter months (November–February) bring the poorest air quality as temperature inversions settle over the Gangetic plain, trapping emissions from rice mills, brick kilns on the city's periphery, and vehicular exhaust from the busy GT Road corridor connecting Kolkata to the coal belt towns of Asansol and Durgapur. Agricultural residue burning from paddy fields in the surrounding countryside adds seasonal smoke. Morning fog along the Damodar River compounds the problem by reducing atmospheric mixing.

The monsoon (June–September) delivers dramatic improvement as heavy rainfall (1,300–1,500mm) washes out particulates and suppresses dust. Bardhaman's position between Kolkata and the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt means it receives some transboundary pollution from both directions, though at lower concentrations than the source cities. The university town's moderate growth rate and predominantly agricultural economy keep industrial emissions limited compared to its western coal-belt neighbours.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Rice mill emissions
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Brick kilns
  • Agricultural residue burning

Geography: Bardhaman district HQ on the Damodar River plain; major rice-producing region, flat alluvial terrain, gateway between Kolkata and the coal belt

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Bardhaman

How do rice mills affect Bardhaman's air quality?

Bardhaman district is one of West Bengal's leading rice producers, with numerous rice mills operating during the November–March post-harvest season. These mills release husking dust and boiler smoke that elevate PM10 levels, particularly in areas downwind from milling clusters. The seasonal coincidence with winter inversions amplifies the impact on local air quality.

When is the best air quality in Bardhaman?

July through September during the monsoon offers the cleanest air, with heavy rainfall suppressing dust and washing out industrial and agricultural pollutants. AQI typically stays in the Good to Satisfactory range. The worst months are December and January when winter inversions trap rice mill, brick kiln, and vehicular emissions.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities