Checking PM10 and air quality before stepping out can help you decide whether to exercise outdoors, commute by bike, take children outside or limit prolonged exposure. India’s official AQI system combines readings from multiple pollutants into a single air-quality index.
Why You Should Check Air Quality Before Going Out
This is an evergreen practical explainer with a current relevance because air quality can change significantly during the day and between different locations. The Central Pollution Control Board, or CPCB, operates India’s National Air Quality Index system and provides city and station-level air-quality information through its monitoring network.
For most people, checking the AQI is more useful than looking at a single pollution number. AQI converts pollutant concentrations into an index and category that is easier to understand. India’s national AQI uses six categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very Poor and Severe.
PM10 is one of the pollutants used in India’s national AQI system. It refers to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or less. These particles can enter the lower respiratory system, and CPCB identifies respiratory effects associated with particulate matter exposure.
The key point is simple: before leaving home, check both the overall AQI and the prominent pollutant when that information is available.
How to Check Your City’s AQI Online
The most reliable starting point is the CPCB’s National Air Quality Index platform. Its national dashboard provides air-quality information from continuous monitoring stations across India and allows users to look at city and station-level AQI information.
Open the CPCB National AQI dashboard and select the relevant state, city and monitoring station where available. The platform can show the AQI value, category and pollutant information associated with the monitoring location.
The CPCB dashboard currently covers hundreds of monitoring stations across multiple states and Union Territories. Its national monitoring summary shows data contributed by CPCB and state or regional pollution-control agencies.
There is also a government Open Data platform that provides real-time AQI information from monitoring stations across India. The dataset includes pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone.
When checking the air before commuting, use the monitoring station closest to your actual location whenever possible.
How to Check PM10 Levels Specifically
If you want to check PM10 rather than only the overall AQI, look for the pollutant or concentration section on the CPCB air-quality dashboard.
The PM10 figure is normally expressed in micrograms per cubic metre, written as µg/m³. It is different from the AQI number. For example, a PM10 concentration of 100 µg/m³ is not the same thing as an AQI of 100.
This distinction matters because the national AQI is calculated from pollutant sub-indices. CPCB’s methodology considers eight pollutants for the national AQI: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia and lead. The worst applicable pollutant sub-index determines the overall AQI.
So, if your city’s AQI is high, do not automatically assume PM10 is responsible. PM2.5 or another monitored pollutant may be the dominant pollutant.
Checking the prominent pollutant gives you more useful context than looking at the headline AQI number alone.
What PM10 Levels Mean Under India’s AQI System
Under the National AQI methodology, PM10 concentrations are mapped to different AQI categories.
For PM10, the concentration ranges associated with the AQI categories are:
Good: 0 to 50 µg/m³
Satisfactory: 51 to 100 µg/m³
Moderate: 101 to 250 µg/m³
Poor: 251 to 350 µg/m³
Very Poor: 351 to 430 µg/m³
Severe: above 430 µg/m³
These are pollutant concentration ranges used to calculate the PM10 sub-index. They should not be confused with the overall AQI bands, which are based on the resulting index value.
For example, a PM10 reading in the 101 to 250 µg/m³ range falls within the PM10 concentration range associated with the Moderate AQI band. But the city’s overall AQI could be higher if another pollutant produces a worse sub-index.
That is why reading only PM10 can give an incomplete picture of the air you are breathing.
How to Understand the AQI Number
India’s national AQI runs from 0 to 500.
A score of 0 to 50 is classified as Good. CPCB associates this category with minimal health impact.
An AQI of 51 to 100 is Satisfactory. Sensitive individuals may experience minor breathing discomfort.
The 101 to 200 range is Moderate. CPCB identifies potential breathing discomfort for people with lung disease, asthma and heart disease, with children and older adults among groups that may need greater caution.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is Poor, while 301 to 400 is Very Poor. The Severe category covers 401 to 500 and is associated with health impacts that can affect healthy people as well as those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
The number is therefore not just a pollution score. It is designed to communicate potential health implications in a form that is easier for the public to understand.
Why PM2.5 and PM10 Should Both Be Checked
PM10 is important, but it is not the only particulate pollutant worth checking.
PM2.5 refers to much finer particles. India’s AQI system includes both PM10 and PM2.5, and their concentration ranges are assessed separately when calculating the relevant sub-indices.
A city can therefore have a situation where PM10 is not the highest concern but PM2.5 is contributing strongly to the overall AQI.
This is particularly relevant near roads, construction zones and areas with significant dust. PM10 can be influenced by sources such as road dust, construction activity and other particulate emissions, while finer particles can have different sources and behaviour in the atmosphere.
For a more complete picture, check the overall AQI, PM2.5, PM10 and the prominent pollutant if the monitoring platform provides them.
How to Decide Whether to Go Outside
The AQI should be treated as a practical risk indicator, not as a personal medical diagnosis.
When air quality is Good or Satisfactory, outdoor activities generally involve fewer air-pollution concerns for the wider population. As AQI rises into Moderate, Poor or Very Poor categories, people who are more sensitive to pollution may need to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exposure. CPCB’s health-impact descriptions become progressively more serious as the AQI category increases.
If the AQI is high, consider postponing strenuous outdoor exercise, particularly if you are in a group that is more vulnerable to air pollution. A shorter outdoor trip is different from prolonged running, cycling or other intense activity because breathing rates increase during exercise.
Also remember that air quality can vary between monitoring stations. A city-wide number may not perfectly represent the conditions outside your home, workplace or school.
Why Your Local Monitoring Station Matters
Air pollution is not always evenly distributed across a city.
Traffic-heavy roads, industrial areas, construction sites and residential neighbourhoods can have different pollution levels. CPCB’s monitoring network therefore provides station-level information where monitoring infrastructure is available.
If you live in a large city such as Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow or Bengaluru, checking the nearest monitoring station can provide more useful information than relying on a generic national or city-level figure.
However, not every locality has its own monitoring station. When your neighbourhood is not directly monitored, use the closest available station and treat the figure as an indication rather than an exact measurement of the air immediately outside your door.
CPCB also notes that air-quality data can vary by location, which is why station-level information can be important when interpreting conditions.
What to Check Before Stepping Out
A quick air-quality check can take less than a minute.
First, check the overall AQI for your city or nearest monitoring station. Next, look at the AQI category rather than focusing only on the number. Then check the prominent pollutant and, where available, the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations.
Also check the time of the reading. Air-quality conditions are not fixed throughout the day, so an older reading may not accurately represent current conditions.
If the AQI is high, consider reducing prolonged outdoor exposure and avoiding unnecessary strenuous activity outside. For people with existing respiratory or heart conditions, children and older adults, extra caution may be appropriate when pollution levels rise.
Key Takeaways
- Use the CPCB National AQI dashboard to check air quality for your city and available monitoring stations.
- Check the overall AQI along with PM10, PM2.5 and the prominent pollutant where available.
- PM10 concentration and AQI are different measurements, so they should not be treated as the same number.
- Higher AQI categories indicate increasing potential health impacts, particularly with prolonged exposure and for sensitive groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check PM10 levels in my city?
You can check PM10 data through the CPCB’s National Air Quality Index dashboard, which provides pollutant and AQI information from monitoring stations across India. Government Open Data platforms also provide real-time air-quality datasets containing PM10 and other pollutants.
Is PM10 the same as AQI?
No. PM10 is a pollutant concentration measured in micrograms per cubic metre, while AQI is an index that combines pollutant sub-indices into a single number and category. PM10 is one of the pollutants used in India’s National AQI calculation.
What AQI is considered safe in India?
Under India’s National AQI system, 0 to 50 is classified as Good and is associated with minimal health impact. The Satisfactory range is 51 to 100. Health concerns increase as the AQI moves into Moderate, Poor, Very Poor and Severe categories.
Should I avoid going outside when AQI is high?
The appropriate response depends on the AQI level, duration of exposure and individual health factors. CPCB’s guidance associates higher AQI categories with increasing health impacts, particularly during prolonged exposure. People who are more sensitive to air pollution should take greater precautions when AQI levels rise.
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