Raipur air quality map

What information about air quality can be seen on the air pollution map for Raipur?

The air pollution map for Raipur can be found as a link on the main city page. The map is towards the top of the main page and clicking anywhere on the map icon will open a new page which contains all the information about air quality in and around the city.

When the air pollution map is first opened, the first thing to be noticed would be the background colour of it. This colour is a direct reflection of the current state of the air. It is currently a dark yellow which indicates the air quality is “Moderate”. An explanation of the various colours used is seen in the legend which is found at the foot of the screen. The colours range from pale green to dark maroon and are used throughout the entire IQAir website to keep things standard.

Looking back to the main city page, in the banner at the very top of the page is a number. This is the United States Air Quality Index number or US AQI for short. It is followed by an asterisk which means that this city has no ground-level air monitoring stations and instead relies on overhead satellites for their information regarding air quality. This figure is calculated in exactly the same way as if the data was received from air monitoring stations. Six of the most prolific air pollutants are measured and this figure is calculated from the results. The common pollutants are Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Once derived, the figure is used as a standard when comparing air quality in cities throughout the world. The entire system is backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At the start of the fourth quarter of 2022, Raipur was experiencing a period of air quality that can be classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a US AQI reading of 127. The main pollutant measured was PM2.5 with a recorded level of 46.2 µg/m³. This figure is over nine times the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as suggested by the WHO.

Is there more interesting information about air quality on the air pollution map for Raipur?

There is more information to be seen on the air pollution map for Raipur, but the page needs to be opened in full-screen mode, otherwise certain areas will remain hidden. On the left-hand side of the screen can be seen four options which can all be deactivated individually, if desired.

The first option would show the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations, but Raipur relies on satellite data for its information. However, there are two coloured discs on the map to the west of the city which contain information for those specific areas.

The second option shows the position of any wildfires which are burning in the vicinity. Currently there are two fires burning to the north of the city. This is when option four needs to be consulted because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will help decide where the smoke will blow and whether or not it will affect the city.

The third option is the most spectacular as it changes the background colour of the map to reflect the current air quality. This is currently a dark orange colour which equates to air quality that is “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. If some viewers find the colour too intense, it can be deactivated and the map will then revert to a more subdued palette.

More information can be seen on the right-hand side of the screen where a table will be seen that ranks world cities according to their levels of air pollution. By default, the table shows the worst seven cities but this information can be expanded when more world cities appear on a new page.

Is the source of air pollution shown on the air pollution map for Raipur?

Unfortunately, the source of the polluted air is not directly shown on the air pollution map for Shimla, however, experts say that pollution is due to 28 to 32 per cent of industries, 45 per cent of vehicular smoke and 22 per cent of waste burning.

The main causes of pollution are diesel and petrol vehicles and smoke coming out of factories. These particles are more dangerous for people who have asthma and other lung diseases. Dust that is disturbed as vehicles pass by is another cause of air pollution and also the debris created due to the abrasion of tyres on the road surface and the wearing down of brake pads and discs.

Another major polluter is the burning of dried animal dung as fuel in domestic homes. This is particularly bad because the cooking is done by women in small unventilated rooms, often accompanied by their children who always want to be with mum.

The state of Chhattisgarh of which Raipur is the capital regularly burns millions of tons of coal to produce electricity. It is one of only a few states in India to produce more electricity than they use.

PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Raipur, but how dangerous is it?

According to health experts, PM2.5 refers to a class of pollutant particles whose size is close to 2.5 microns. Its levels rise mainly due to forest fires, power plants, industrial processes and residual fumes produced by internal combustion engines. Diesel-powered vehicles are particularly heavy polluters. Due to the increase of PM2.5, the risk of many serious diseases also increases with foggy and poor vision. These particles can easily enter the body through inhalation and cause sore throat, burning sensation and serious damage to the lungs.

Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, eventually reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits and deaths. Studies also suggest that long term exposure to fine particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM2.5.