**Executive Summary**
Researchers from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) conducted a study between 2022 and 2023 to monitor air quality in Munsyari, a remote Himalayan region. The study identified a significant shift from clean to polluted air due to human activities, revealing that long-term exposure to specific pollutants now exceeds safety limits for cancer risks. The report emphasizes the urgent need for constant air quality monitoring and the implementation of specific cleanup plans for these sensitive high-altitude regions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Primary Pollutants and Sources**
* The study focused on non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), which are reactive gases key to forming ozone and secondary aerosols.
* Dominant contributors to local pollution include the use of fuels (LPG and diesel), vehicular emissions, and local construction activities.
* Aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically benzene and xylene, were identified as major contributors to the formation of harmful secondary pollutants in the troposphere.
* **Seasonal and Regional Trends**
* NMHC concentrations show clear seasonal patterns, with significantly higher levels during spring and autumn compared to winter and the monsoon.
* Air pollution levels in Munsyari are higher than those in Nainital, though they remain lower than levels found in major urban centers like Delhi and Haldwani.
* **Environmental and Health Implications**
* The transition from clean to polluted air in remote regions impacts both the regional climate and long-term human health.
* While immediate health risks remain low, the study found that long-term benzene exposure poses a cancer risk that surpasses established safety thresholds.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Local Residents and Tourists**
**Impact:** These individuals are subject to deteriorating air quality and potential long-term health hazards. Specifically, they face a cancer risk from benzene exposure that exceeds safety limits.
**Action Required:** Minimize activities contributing to local emissions where possible and stay informed regarding regional air quality risks.
**Stakeholder: Researchers and Scientific Institutions (ARIES/DST)**
**Impact:** The findings confirm that human-caused pollution is reaching remote high-altitude areas, necessitating further investigation into regional transport processes.
**Action Required:** Continue tracking air quality risks and evaluating the implications of NMHCs on regional health and climate.
**Stakeholder: Government and Policy Makers (Ministry of Science & Technology / Local Authorities)**
**Impact:** The evidence of worsening pollution in sensitive Himalayan ecosystems highlights the inadequacy of current environmental protections in remote areas.
**Action Required:** Establish constant air quality monitoring systems and develop specific cleanup plans and regulations to manage emissions from construction, tourism, and fuel usage.
Key Entities Referenced
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES): An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology that conducted the research study tracking air quality and pollution risks in the Himalayan region.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): The administrative department under the Ministry of Science & Technology that oversees the research activities and institutes involved in monitoring atmospheric pollutants.
Munsyari: The high-altitude Himalayan sampling site central to the study, used to identify the shift from clean to polluted air due to local anthropogenic activities and regional transport.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Researchers tracking air quality risks in the
Himalaya, identify shift from clean to polluted air
प्रव तथ: 17 JUN 2026 4:41PM by PIB Delhi
A new study by researchers has revealed that even pristine remote Himalayan regions are no longer
untouched by air pollution, with measurable impacts on air quality and potential long-term health risks.
NMHCs are a group of reactive gases emitted from fuel use, vehicles, and other human activities that play
a key role in forming ozone and secondary aerosols. It is important to trace them and evaluate their
implications for regional air quality and potential impacts on human health.
Munsyari provides a unique environment to investigate the influence of local anthropogenic activities,
including tourism, as well as regional transport processes on the distribution of NMHCs.
Researchers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous
institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), spent a year (2022–2023) measuring non-
methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in Munsyari, a high-altitude Himalayan tourist destination.
The researchers observed clear seasonal patterns, with lower NMHC levels during winter and the
monsoon and significantly higher concentrations during spring and autumn. It was found that fuel usage
(LPG and diesel), vehicular emissions, and local construction activities as the dominant contributors
influencing air quality at this remote site. Importantly, the aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and
xylene were found to strongly contribute to the formation of secondary pollutants like ozone, known to
affect both climate and human health in the troposphere.
Fig. 1. (left) Location and meteorology of the sampling site in the Himalayas, and (right) seasonal change
in the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potential of NMHCs observed at a high-altitude rural
site (Munsyari).
A regional comparison shows that NMHC levels at Munsyari are higher than those observed at another
high-altitude site (Nainital), though they remain lower than levels reported in nearby urban centers such as
Haldwani and Delhi.These findings show that human-caused pollution is reaching even remote parts of the Himalayas. While
immediate health risks are low, long-term exposure to benzene poses a cancer risk that exceeds safety
limits. This study highlights that pollution is worsening, making constant monitoring and specific cleanup
plans essential for these sensitive regions.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-026-37694-z
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