Andhra Pradesh's Ambient Air Quality Grim in Winter

 Vijayawada: Ambient air quality is found to be grim in several cities in Andhra Pradesh, including Visakhapatnam, Tirumala, Rajamahendravaram, Amaravati and Vijayawada especially during the winter season.

As per the central pollution control board, vis-a-vis air quality index (AQI), a scale of 0-50 is good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor and above 300 very poor from Jan. 1 to 13. Visakhapatnam’s AQI recorded highest at 302 of PM 2.5 on January 1 followed by 288 on January 2; 245 on January 3; 223 on January 4 and 210 on January 7. Tirumala too recorded AQI at 264 on January 1; 210 on January 3; 210 on January 6.

Rajamahendravaram peaked on AQI at 297 on January 1; 280 on January 2; 290 on January 3; 218 on January 4; 203 on January 6; 245 on January 7 and 208 on January 8.

Capital city Amaravati recorded AQI at 236 on January 1 and 201 on January 3. Vijayawada’s AQI is relatively better when compared with other troubled cities and its air quality is satisfactory with minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people all through January, till date.

The higher the AQI values, the higher the breathing discomfort to people with lung disorders, asthma and heart diseases.

Meanwhile, the state pollution control board came up with a preliminary assessment on the steep rise in the AQI values and maintained that the primary pollutants are like PM 2.5 or PM 10 in the absence of presence of noxious gases in the atmosphere.

With regard to Visakhapatnam, temperature inversion and trapping of aerosols in lower atmosphere caused AQI values to shoot up.

Moreover, due to the formation of a depression in the Bay of Bengal, wind direction had changed. This caused the AQI value to reach a satisfactory level. However, the PCB cautioned that, with the termination of depression, there may be a chance of AQI values going up -- except for some relief that the rise in temperature may cause dispersion and have an impact on rising AQI values to bring them down.

In Rajamahendravaram, vehicular pollution causes aerosols to get trapped in the atmosphere. Heavy road dust would cause AQI values to go up.

In Tirupati, one day, the AQI value went beyond 300 when a local park was cleaned and dry leaves were burnt. In Amaravati, dust pollution caused AQI values to go up.

PCB senior scientist Sree Rajani said, “With a steady rise in temperatures across the state, the AQI values are coming to satisfactory levels, giving a good relief to people facing health hazards due to air pollution.”

Meanwhile, the Union health ministry has issued an advisory for target populations, especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, and urged them to reduce risk from exposure to air pollutants by avoiding outdoor activities like walk, run, jog and physical exercise. It also cautioned against burning wood, coal, animal dung and kerosene by using clean fuels.

An advisory from PCB called upon people to avoid toxic materials like plastic, rubber tires, painted wood, electronic waste, flex banners etc to light bonfires for the Bhogi festival.

Infographics: AQI peaks as follows in October, November and December respectively in 2025

Visakkhapatnam-156 - 310 - 347

Tirumala- 104-212-293

Rajamundry-109-260-289

Amaravati-114-265-265

Vijayawada-98-155-136