Air Quality (AQI) in Tirunelveli
This page provides a detailed view of air quality conditions in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. We use the European Air Quality Index (EAQI) which combines PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, O₃ and SO₂ readings into a single 0–100+ score. Data is refreshed every 60 minutes from the Copernicus CAMS forecast via Open-Meteo.
What Tirunelveli's AQI levels mean
0–20 is Good, 20–40 Fair, 40–60 Moderate, 60–80 Poor, 80–100 Very Poor, and 100+ Extremely Poor. As a metro of 14,35,844 people, Tirunelveli typically sees winter AQI spikes above 100 from a combination of vehicle exhaust, biomass burning and temperature inversion.
Health advisory by AQI level
At AQI 60+, sensitive groups (children, elderly, asthma + COPD patients, pregnant women) should reduce time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. At AQI 100+, N95 / KN95 masks are recommended outdoors, and indoor HEPA filtration helps. Above AQI 200, all outdoor exertion should be paused and windows kept closed.
PM2.5 vs PM10 in Tirunelveli
PM2.5 (particles under 2.5 µm) is the most dangerous fraction — it passes deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. PM10 (under 10 µm) irritates the nose and throat. Both readings are shown in the live panel above for Tirunelveli. The WHO recommends annual PM2.5 below 5 µg/m³; most South Asian cities sit 10–20× higher.
Best practices for living in Tirunelveli
On a Poor / Very Poor day, sip warm water and herbal infusions to help the airways, avoid burning incense or wood indoors, and check the AQI before morning runs or school commutes. Long-term: indoor plants (modest effect), HEPA purifiers in bedrooms, masks for outdoor labour and traffic-heavy commutes.
See our data sources, or browse air quality for other cities in Tamil Nadu.