Maheshtala Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Maheshtala AQI Right Now

53

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 24.2 µg/m³

PM10: 51.61 µg/m³

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

Maheshtala Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.524.2 µg/m³
PM1051.61 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)19.8 µg/m³
NO₂12.38 µg/m³
SO₂3.5 µg/m³
CO416.77 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Maheshtala

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Maheshtala

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.1 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.09 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Maheshtala

  • 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 Maheshtala Air Quality

Maheshtala, a densely packed southern suburb of the Kolkata metropolitan area on the western bank of the Hooghly River, shares the same pollution airshed as Kolkata and Howrah. With extreme residential density and minimal green buffer zones, Maheshtala's air quality is largely dictated by the collective emissions of the greater Kolkata agglomeration. Thousands of small-scale industrial units - metalworking shops, plastics recyclers, and garment workshops - operate in mixed residential-commercial zones, contributing fine particulates and VOCs to the local atmosphere.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as the Bengal basin experiences temperature inversions and calm wind conditions. PM2.5 levels regularly exceed 150 µg/m³ during December and January, with morning fog trapping pollutants at ground level. Open waste burning from informal settlements and construction debris fires add to the pollution load, as municipal waste collection infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the area's rapid, often unplanned, growth.

The monsoon (June–September) provides the most significant relief, with heavy rainfall washing out particulates and flooding suppressing dust. The Hooghly River corridor offers some ventilation, but the surrounding urban density limits its effectiveness. Post-monsoon months (October–November) see a transitional period where Kali Puja and Diwali fireworks create sharp but short-lived spikes. Maheshtala's air quality closely mirrors Kolkata's readings, typically lagging slightly behind due to fewer monitoring stations and less green cover.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Industrial emissions (small-scale)
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning
  • Open waste burning

Geography: Southern Kolkata suburb on Hooghly River; dense residential spillover from Kolkata, part of Kolkata metropolitan pollution airshed

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Maheshtala

Why is Maheshtala's air quality similar to Kolkata's?

Maheshtala is part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and shares the same Hooghly River airshed. Pollutants from Kolkata's traffic, industries, and waste burning are carried across the metropolitan region by prevailing winds. With no geographic barrier separating Maheshtala from Kolkata proper, the two areas experience nearly identical pollution patterns, particularly during winter inversions when the entire basin traps emissions.

What are the main local pollution sources in Maheshtala?

Maheshtala's primary local sources include open waste burning from informal settlements, emissions from thousands of small-scale workshops (metalworking, plastics recycling, garment manufacturing), vehicular exhaust from congested arterial roads, and construction dust from ongoing residential expansion. The extreme population density - among the highest in the Kolkata metropolitan area - means these sources are in close proximity to residents.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities