Bose Institute study: desert dust carries pathogens from western India to the Eastern Himalayas
A Bose Institute study found that dust storms from the arid regions of western India carry airborne pathogens to Eastern Himalayan hilltops, linked to respiratory and skin diseases; it was published in Science of the Total Environment.
Summary
Researchers from the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, monitored dust storms from western India's arid regions for over two years. They found the storms can travel hundreds of kilometres across the Indo-Gangetic Plain and settle over Himalayan hilltops, carrying bacteria including pathogens associated with respiratory and skin diseases. Vertical uplift of polluted foothill air also adds local pathogens, contributing to gastrointestinal infections. The study was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Key facts
- Institution
- Bose Institute (autonomous, DST)
- Finding
- Desert dust from western India carries pathogens to Eastern Himalayan hilltops
- Health links
- Respiratory and skin diseases; also gastrointestinal infections
- Monitoring
- Over two years
- Journal
- Science of the Total Environment
Practice MCQs 1 questions
A January 2026 study found that dust storms from western India carry airborne pathogens to Eastern Himalayan hilltops. Which institute carried out this study?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Bose Institute
PIB (DST): researchers from Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of DST, conducted the study, published in Science of the Total Environment.