Hyderabad air quality study: PM2.5 down 2.86% a year but PM10 rises, above national limits

A seven-year analysis of Hyderabad air quality from 2017 to 2023 found PM2.5 fell about 2.86% annually, but PM10 increased. Both remain above national ambient air quality standards. Researchers from NARL used ground stations and satellite data to track trends. They linked the PM10 rise to a shrinking atmospheric boundary layer and local activities like construction and road dust. Extreme pollution episodes are driven by regional transport, so city-level measures alone are insufficient. Despite the PM2.5 improvement, the city's average concentration is still 23% above its historical mean. Gaseous pollutants stayed within limits. The study highlights the need for coordinated regional action to tackle particulate pollution, especially during severe episodes.