For many, the idea of a monsoon break in the hills is pure bliss: cool air, sweeping views, and the gentle hush of clouds drifting past. Yet new research suggests that these same clouds may be carrying an invisible threat. A study by the Bose Institute, under India’s Department of Science and Technology, has found dangerous levels of toxic metals in the mist over two of the country’s most beloved hill stations.
The findings are sobering. Breathing in these airborne droplets over time could harm the lungs, kidneys, liver, and even the brain, while also increasing the risk of certain cancers. Children are particularly at risk, facing about a 30 per cent greater chance of exposure compared with adults. The message is clear: those picturesque mists may not be as pure as they seem.
Metals Hidden In The Fog
Cloud water collected from Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats and Darjeeling in the Eastern Himalayas revealed traces of cadmium, copper, zinc, chromium, and nickel. The Eastern Himalayan samples were particularly troubling, with about one-and-a-half times the pollution levels found in the Western Ghats.
The differences were stark. Concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc in Darjeeling’s clouds were between 40 and 60 per cent higher than in Mahabaleshwar. For travellers who relish taking deep breaths of mountain air, such figures undermine the long-held belief that hill station atmospheres are naturally clean.
The team targeted low-lying, non-precipitating clouds during the monsoon, using precise collection techniques to avoid contamination. In Mahabaleshwar, the pH of the cloud water ranged from 6.2 to 6.8, while in Darjeeling it measured between 6.5 and 7.0. These alkaline readings can affect how easily metals dissolve and remain airborne.
Pollution levels were measured using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI). Mahabaleshwar recorded a score of around 14.8, whereas Darjeeling’s reached approximately 22.6. The higher the score, the more contaminated the cloud water and the more worrying the potential health impact.
Tracing The Sources Of Contamination
The clouds themselves are not to blame. They collect pollutants as they move from the plains towards the highlands, passing over zones heavy with human activity. According to the researchers, traffic exhaust, fossil fuel burning, open waste incineration, and road dust are the main culprits.
This means even remote mountain towns are not spared the fallout from urban and industrial emissions. By the time clouds reach higher altitudes, they may be carrying an invisible cargo of toxins, delivered to the very places people seek for cleaner air.
Why Children Bear The Greater Risk
The study found that children are about 30 per cent more vulnerable than adults. Their smaller body size, higher breathing rate, and developing organs make them more susceptible to the harmful effects of pollutants. Even low levels of prolonged exposure can trigger lasting respiratory and immune system problems.
Chromium, for example, is linked to inflammation and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. While the study focused on potential exposure rather than confirmed illness, experts caution that repeated inhalation of these metals could have serious consequences over time.
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The Toll On Vital Organs
Heavy metals can accumulate in the body, leading to chronic damage. Cadmium is associated with kidney and lung impairment and is classified as a human carcinogen. Hexavalent chromium is known for causing severe respiratory diseases and raising the risk of lung cancer. Nickel exposure is linked to cancers of the respiratory tract and allergic reactions.
Beyond these direct threats, some metals can enter the bloodstream and affect the nervous system, potentially impairing brain function. Others may damage the liver or place strain on the cardiovascular system. It is the cumulative effect of such exposure that makes these findings especially concerning.
Sensible Precautions For Travellers
Visiting the hills in monsoon need not be ruled out, but sensible steps can reduce the risk. Avoid lingering in dense fog for extended periods, especially in low-lying areas where clouds are thickest. For children, limit outdoor play when mist is heavy, and always use bottled or treated water for drinking.
On a broader level, travellers and locals alike can support air-quality monitoring and pollution-reduction measures. Cutting emissions from vehicles, halting open waste burning, and adopting cleaner energy in the plains will help protect the health of both visitors and residents in the mountains.
The mist-shrouded charm of India’s hill stations hides a less visible reality. This study shows that the very clouds wrapping these landscapes can carry a toxic load capable of harming vital organs and raising cancer risk, particularly for children. Occasional visits may not be inherently dangerous, but repeated or prolonged exposure could have a significant cost.
Protecting these places requires more than personal caution. It calls for action to address the pollution at its source, far beyond the hills, so that the clouds once again bring only coolness and beauty, not hidden danger.
The monsoon mist may look harmless, but science is revealing a different picture. For many travellers, a hill station holiday is a cherished escape, yet this research reminds us that even nature’s beauty can be tainted by human activity far away. Protecting your health is not only about where you go, but also about the quality of the air you breathe when you get there. Until the clouds above the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas are free of these hidden toxins, caution is the wisest travel companion.
Images: Google Images
Sources: Economic Times, Times of India, Deccan Herald
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: toxic metals in clouds, Western Ghats pollution, Eastern Himalayas pollution, monsoon travel risks, hill station health hazards, cadmium in air, chromium health effects, nickel lung cancer risk, children air pollution risk, cloud water contamination, India environmental study, Bose Institute research, Science Advances study, air quality in hill stations, travel health tips, monsoon safety India, environmental pollution India, kidney liver lung brain health, toxic air India, pollution awareness
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