facing today in terms of quality and quantity. This problem further deteriorates in the
case of developing countries, as most of them are not able to provide clean potable
water to the majority of the population, resulting in severe health ailments or even
death; approximately, 3.1% of the deaths are related to consumption of contaminated
water (Pawari and Gawande 2015). Some health impacts are immediate, whereas
some are noticed over time; these include illnesses related to the stomach and
intestines, such as vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and many other harmful effects
(Montgomery and Elimelech 2007). The World Health Organization indicates that
nearly 80% of diseases are somewhere and somehow related to water contamination,
and a notable number of countries are not able to fulfil the standards laid by them for
drinking water (Khan et al. 2013). There are a number of reasons associated with this
issue; out of which, the most common is the enormous increase in the number of
industries in the last few decades because of their contribution in economic growth.
Rapid industrialization is associated with increase in level of environmental pollution in context of not only water but also to noise, air, and soil.
We all know that for any industrial process, water acts as a key raw material; in
any form either volume or weight, it exceeds all other liquid or solid inputs used in
manufacturing process. It also plays a key role in deciding the location of any
industrial setup (Kollar and MacAuley 1980). As observed, most of them are located
near banks of water bodies so that water is readily available. Apart from huge water
requirement for different industrial purposes, the problem further rises, as only a
small fraction of the water is converted in their required product, and only a small
amount is lost by evaporation, and the rest makes its way into water bodies in form of
waste. The waste generated from industrial units joins the municipalities which
results in pollution of natural water bodies. These industrial wastes join water bodies
either directly or emptied into municipal sewers carrying waste, which affect normal
functioning of the water body. Now, a general perception of people has changed
towards industries that only chemical industries cause pollution; apart from them, a
number of industries are there which are degrading the natural environmental
balance, and the extent of pollution varies from industry to industry. In general, no
industry is pollution free in present scenario. Some of the industries related to
cement, steel, petroleum, textile, pesticides, chemicals, transport vehicles, and
leather are hugely polluting the nature. Waste originating from different industries
can be divided into three main categories: biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, and
radioactive or poisonous waste.
Tannery industry is one of the industries that is polluting the environment and its
resources particularly water bodies (Leta et al. 2003). This ancient craft was initially
practiced for over years at the village level of developed countries, and with the
passage of time, this industry has shown a notable growth in developing countries as
well due to strict norms of the former. Now, it has acquired status of a mature
industry which plays an important role in the economy of producing country and
lead to its development, as leather is an important foreign exchange earner due to its
application in making a number of useful products (Joseph and Nithya 2009).
Tannery industry is basically associated with the manufacturing of leather and
related products; more specifically, it is the place where a process termed as tanning
16 Environmental Impact and Treatment of Tannery Waste
579
case of developing countries, as most of them are not able to provide clean potable
water to the majority of the population, resulting in severe health ailments or even
death; approximately, 3.1% of the deaths are related to consumption of contaminated
water (Pawari and Gawande 2015). Some health impacts are immediate, whereas
some are noticed over time; these include illnesses related to the stomach and
intestines, such as vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and many other harmful effects
(Montgomery and Elimelech 2007). The World Health Organization indicates that
nearly 80% of diseases are somewhere and somehow related to water contamination,
and a notable number of countries are not able to fulfil the standards laid by them for
drinking water (Khan et al. 2013). There are a number of reasons associated with this
issue; out of which, the most common is the enormous increase in the number of
industries in the last few decades because of their contribution in economic growth.
Rapid industrialization is associated with increase in level of environmental pollution in context of not only water but also to noise, air, and soil.
We all know that for any industrial process, water acts as a key raw material; in
any form either volume or weight, it exceeds all other liquid or solid inputs used in
manufacturing process. It also plays a key role in deciding the location of any
industrial setup (Kollar and MacAuley 1980). As observed, most of them are located
near banks of water bodies so that water is readily available. Apart from huge water
requirement for different industrial purposes, the problem further rises, as only a
small fraction of the water is converted in their required product, and only a small
amount is lost by evaporation, and the rest makes its way into water bodies in form of
waste. The waste generated from industrial units joins the municipalities which
results in pollution of natural water bodies. These industrial wastes join water bodies
either directly or emptied into municipal sewers carrying waste, which affect normal
functioning of the water body. Now, a general perception of people has changed
towards industries that only chemical industries cause pollution; apart from them, a
number of industries are there which are degrading the natural environmental
balance, and the extent of pollution varies from industry to industry. In general, no
industry is pollution free in present scenario. Some of the industries related to
cement, steel, petroleum, textile, pesticides, chemicals, transport vehicles, and
leather are hugely polluting the nature. Waste originating from different industries
can be divided into three main categories: biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, and
radioactive or poisonous waste.
Tannery industry is one of the industries that is polluting the environment and its
resources particularly water bodies (Leta et al. 2003). This ancient craft was initially
practiced for over years at the village level of developed countries, and with the
passage of time, this industry has shown a notable growth in developing countries as
well due to strict norms of the former. Now, it has acquired status of a mature
industry which plays an important role in the economy of producing country and
lead to its development, as leather is an important foreign exchange earner due to its
application in making a number of useful products (Joseph and Nithya 2009).
Tannery industry is basically associated with the manufacturing of leather and
related products; more specifically, it is the place where a process termed as tanning
16 Environmental Impact and Treatment of Tannery Waste
579