A new scientific study has found that airborne pathogens attached to desert dust plumes originating in western India are reaching the high-altitude regions of the Eastern Himalayas, potentially increasing the risk of respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal diseases in mountain populations.
The research challenges the long-held perception that Himalayan hill-top air is inherently protective of human health. While cold temperatures and low oxygen levels already heighten health vulnerability in these regions, the study shows that long-range transport of microbial pollutants adds a previously underexplored layer of risk.
Dust Storms Travel Hundreds of Kilometres to Himalayan Peaks
Researchers from the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), conducted more than two years of continuous monitoring of dust storm events rising from the arid regions of western India. The study found that powerful dust plumes can travel hundreds of kilometres, crossing the densely populated and polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain before settling over Himalayan hilltops.
These dust storms act as carriers of airborne bacteria, including pathogenic species known to be associated with respiratory and skin-related illnesses. The findings highlight how transboundary dust transport can influence atmospheric composition far beyond its point of origin.
Local Pollution Mixes with Long-Range Pathogens at High Altitudes
The study also revealed that dust-borne pathogens are not the only contributors to microbial exposure in the Himalayas. Vertical uplift of polluted air from the Himalayan foothills injects locally sourced airborne pathogens into the high-altitude atmosphere, where they mix with microbes transported over long distances.
This interaction reshapes the atmospheric bacterial community above the Eastern Himalayas, increasing the potential for respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal infections among exposed populations. The combined impact of horizontal dust transport and vertical pollution uplift creates a complex microbial environment with direct implications for public health.
Findings Highlight Public Health Risks and Policy Implications
Published in the journal *Science of the Total Environment*, the study is among the first to quantitatively demonstrate how long-range desert dust transport and vertical air movement jointly alter the atmospheric bacterial ecosystem over the Himalayas. The researchers note that this microbiological dimension of air pollution has remained largely absent from discussions on Himalayan health risks.
The findings provide critical evidence to support the development of health forecasting systems and strengthen national action plans related to human health and environmental monitoring. Scientists say the research aligns with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 underlining the need to integrate atmospheric microbiology into climate, health and development strategies.