South Dumdum Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

South Dumdum AQI Right Now

73

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 38.58 µg/m³

PM10: 72.27 µg/m³

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

South Dumdum Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.538.58 µg/m³
PM1072.27 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)31.59 µg/m³
NO₂25.19 µg/m³
SO₂2.14 µg/m³
CO342.54 µg/m³

Health Advisory — South Dumdum

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — South Dumdum

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.8 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.19 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for South Dumdum

  • 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 South Dumdum Air Quality

South Dumdum, the gateway suburb to Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, occupies a strategic position in the northern part of the Kolkata metropolitan area. Aircraft takeoffs and landings, ground support vehicle operations, and the massive surface transport infrastructure serving the airport generate a distinctive mix of aviation fuel exhaust and vehicular emissions that set South Dumdum apart from other Kolkata suburbs. The dense commercial and residential development surrounding the airport means these emissions affect a large population living in close proximity.

The flat Gangetic delta terrain provides no topographic barriers to contain or disperse pollutants, and South Dumdum shares Kolkata's characteristic winter inversion pattern that traps emissions in a shallow boundary layer from November through February. Vehicle exhaust from the VIP Road, Jessore Road, and BT Road corridors - three of Kolkata's busiest arterials - flows through the area continuously. Road dust from ongoing flyover and metro extension construction, combined with residential waste burning, adds to the PM2.5 and PM10 burden.

Monsoon months (June–September) deliver the best air quality as heavy Gangetic delta rainfall (1,500mm+) washes out particulates and suppresses road dust. The airport's 24-hour operations mean aviation-related emissions are a constant baseline source, but their relative contribution is lower during rain-washed months. Diwali and New Year celebrations in October-November mark the onset of the high-pollution season, with firecrackers adding acute spikes to already deteriorating winter air quality.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Airport emissions (Kolkata airport proximity)
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning

Geography: Northern Kolkata suburb near Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport; dense urban area, part of Kolkata airshed

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — South Dumdum

How does Kolkata airport affect South Dumdum's air quality?

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located adjacent to South Dumdum, contributes aviation fuel exhaust from aircraft operations, ground vehicle emissions, and construction dust from ongoing expansion. While airport emissions are not the dominant source, they add a constant baseline to South Dumdum's pollution load that other Kolkata suburbs do not face.

When is air quality worst in South Dumdum?

November through February brings the worst air quality due to winter temperature inversions, reduced wind dispersion, and increased waste burning. October-November Diwali celebrations and the onset of winter create acute pollution spikes, while the monsoon months (June–September) deliver the cleanest air with consistent rainfall washing out particulates.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities