IIT Mandi researchers found cancer-causing agents in groundwater in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi Barotiwala area, emphasizing the need to monitor industrial effluents for zinc, lead, nickel, and chromium to prevent health hazards and balance industrial development with public health. “Considering that over 80% of health issues in developing countries are linked to waterborne diseases, resulting in 1.5 million deaths annually from poor water quality and hygiene, the importance of this study cannot be overstated,” the team has said.