Mountain of a study: Scientists to study Everest pollution

A team of US scientists is preparing to climb Mount Everest to study how pollution has affected the Himalayan mountains and glaciers.

International trekkers at the Mt Everest base camp. Source: AAP

The team led by John All of Western Washington University plans to spend the next few months collecting samples and studying ice, snow and vegetation.

In May the team will tackle Everest, the world's highest mountain at the 8850m, and its sister peak Mount Lhotse.

"We are looking at how climate change has affected vegetation, we are looking at how climate change has affected the snow and water availability for local people and how it is affecting local people," Mr All told The Associated Press.