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Himalayan clouds carrying Toxic Heavy Metals: Study | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Himalayan clouds carrying Toxic Heavy Metals: Study

Posted 02 Aug 2025

2 min read

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. 

About Heavy Metals (HM) and HM Pollution

  • 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. 

Key Measures taken to curb Pollution in Himalayan Regions

  • 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. 
  • Tags :
  • Himalayan clouds
  • Pollution in Himalayan Regions
  • Heavy Metals
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