Air quality in the city remains a concern, with the Sameer application reporting a moderate Air Quality Index of 111. Residents with respiratory issues, asthma, or heart conditions may experience discomfort due to the elevated pollution levels
Air quality in the city remains a concern, with the Sameer application reporting a moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) of 111. Representational/File Pic
Mumbai is expected to experience hazy conditions on Monday morning, followed by partly cloudy skies in the afternoon and evening across the city and suburbs. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the maximum temperature to hover around 32 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is expected to be 19 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures recorded earlier at key stations include 22.2 degrees Celsius at Colaba and 18.4 degrees Celsius at Santacruz, with no rainfall reported.
Air quality in the city remains a concern, with the Sameer application reporting a moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) of 111. Residents with respiratory issues, asthma, or heart conditions may experience discomfort due to the elevated pollution levels. Certain areas of Mumbai are reporting higher AQI readings, including Malad at 125, Deonar at 123, and Vile Parle at 121, while Mazgaon and Worli recorded slightly lower values of 98 and 99, respectively.
Mumbai air quality remains ‘moderate,’ posing health risks for vulnerable residents
Mumbai’s air quality has remained in the ‘moderate’ category — which poses a risk to those with respiratory illnesses, heart problems, and asthma — throughout the first week of December, continuing with the moderate AQI streak that began on November 7. The first week of November recorded an AQI in the satisfactory category. Annually, Mumbai records its worst air quality in the winter months of December and January.
However, despite consistently bad air quality, December’s average AQI stood around 122 during the first week, which is much lower than the average AQI during the same time in 2024, which was around 148, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Last year, AQI peaked at 174 during this time due to ozone — the secondary pollutant contributing to smog — and particulate matter, and December 2024’s worst reading was 199. This year, AQI has peaked at 138 in December so far, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the worst pollutant — the primary pollutant contributing to smog — which can come from construction and industrial emissions, apart from other contributors.
What is smog?
Smog is visible air pollution, comprising primary pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), mainly caused due to vehicular combustion and emissions from industries, sulphur dioxide (SO2) due to burning of coal or diesel, and ground-level ozone, which is a secondary pollutant, caused due to reactions from the primary pollutants.
Worst affected areas
Ghatkopar reported the worst AQI this week at 170 in the ‘moderate’ category, mainly due to PM10 and ozone. On December 4, Ghatkopar reported its worst AQI at 186.
Kherwadi in Bandra East recorded an AQI of 142 with PM2.5 and PM10 as the main pollutants. On two days this week, Kherwadi’s AQI was in the ‘poor’ category, at 205 on December 4, and 236 on December 6.
Sion reported an AQI of 134 on Sunday, but had an AQI in the ‘satisfactory’ category throughout the week.
Byculla reported an AQI of 133, mainly due to PM10
Bandra Kurla Complex recorded an AQI of 125 on Sunday, due to PM10 and PM2.5. On December 4, BKC reported AQI in the ‘poor’ category, at 232.
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