Chennai AQI at 190, Severe Air Pollution Hits Parts of TN Capital

Chennai woke up to worrying air quality levels on Wednesday morning, with the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 190, placing it firmly in the 'Unhealthy' category, according to real-time air pollution data updated at 7:11 am on AQI.in.

The deterioration in air quality was driven primarily by elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, posing potential health risks, especially to vulnerable groups.

The PM2.5 level stood at 119 µg/m³, more than four times higher than the safe limit prescribed by global health standards, while PM10 was measured at 146 µg/m³. These microscopic particles are known to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. The AQI scale indicates that prolonged exposure at this level may cause breathing discomfort even for healthy individuals, while people with asthma, lung disease, or heart conditions face heightened risks.

Several residential and commercial pockets across Chennai reported 'Unhealthy' to 'Severe' air quality conditions. Areas such as Alwar Nagar, Annai Sathya Nagar, CBI Colony, Peravallur, Phase 1, and Natesan Colony were among the worst affected, with AQI levels ranging between 204 and 260, placing them in the 'Severe' category. Annai Sathya Nagar recorded an alarming AQI of 260, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 185 µg/m³ and PM10 touching 227 µg/m³, the data said.

Other localities including Abhiramapuram, Arumbakkam, Korattur, Medavakkam, Perungudi, Sowcarpet, Vyasarpadi, and Neelankarai continued to experience 'Unhealthy' air, with AQI values hovering between 175 and 195. Even traditionally busy commercial zones like George Town and Park Town reported degraded air quality, underscoring the citywide nature of the pollution episode.

Pollutant gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) were measured at 254 ppb, while nitrogen dioxide (NO2) stood at 10 ppb, ozone (O3) at 18 ppb, and sulphur dioxide (SO2) at 2 ppb. While these gaseous pollutants remained within relatively lower limits, experts note that the dominant threat currently stems from particulate matter rather than gaseous emissions.

Weather conditions may be contributing to the poor dispersion of pollutants. Most areas recorded high humidity levels between 72% and 89%, along with mild temperatures ranging from 21.5°C to 23.3°C, conditions that can trap pollutants closer to the surface and worsen air quality.