Himalayan clouds carrying Toxic Heavy Metals: Study

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Study by the Bose Institute, Kolkata under Department of Science and Technology has shattered the myth of “clean” mountain rain.

Key Highlights of the Study

Toxic Heavy Metals: Low level clouds are polluted with heavy toxic metals in India.
Key Contaminants: Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and chromium (Cr) detected in non-precipitating clouds over Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas.
Higher Pollution in Eastern Himalayas: 1.5 times more pollution with 40–60% higher toxic metal loading.
Health Risks: Children face 30% higher risk than adults, dissolved Cr increases the risk of carcinogenic diseases, etc.
Major Causes: Vehicular emissions from foothill regions, Industrial pollution from nearby lowlands, etc.

Characteristics of HM: High atomic weight ranging from 63.5 to 200.6 and a density greater than 4000 kg/m3. E.g., zinc, copper, cadmium, cobalt, arsenic, lead, chromium, etc.
- Comprise over 50 elements on the periodic table of which about 17 are extremely lethal.
Occurrence: Naturally occurring in the Earth’s crust since its formation.
Causes of Pollution: Anthropogenic activity, particularly metal-based industrial activities such as smelting, mining, foundries, and the leaching of metals, etc.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: To Scientifically assess the vulnerability of the Himalayan regions.
SECURE Himalaya Project: Under “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” (funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Himalayan State Regional Council: Established by NITI Aayog.