16.4 Effect of Waste on Environment
Pollution due to tannery industries causes horrible ecological crisis to which we are
subjected in the modern time. Due to improper management practices, tannery
industry is polluting the environment day by day, and further condition becomes
worsen as nearly 95% of tannery industries are built in unplanned way throughout
the world (Kaul et al. 2005). Wastes generated from tanneries are the primary
pollutant to the environment and has potential to pollute both soil and water because
of its properties, such as discoloration, toxic chemical constituents, and high oxygen
demand (Song et al. 2000).
Most of the tanneries throughout the world use chromium salts for tanning
purpose in order to provide better leather water resistance, flexibility, and high
shrinkage temperature, but chromium salts are not fixed completely by hides, and
the remaining nearly 70% joins the spent tanning liquor (Cassano et al. 2007). High
amount of chromium has mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects on animals, humans, and many plants along with bacteria inhabiting aquatic environments
(Naik et al. 2007). This may lead to effects, such as headache; dizziness; irritation to
skin, eyes, and lungs; poisoning of kidney, liver, or nervous system; or collapse due
to insufficient oxygen (Lippmann 2000).
Chromium pollution is increasing in the world due to the increase in tannery
industries and can be notably observed in countries, such as India, Pakistan,
South Africa, Latin America, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Sudan, where a large
number of tannery industries are operating, and all of them are releasing waste
containing toxic chromium and phenolics (Felsner and Kiruthu 1996). More specifically, adverse effect of tannery effluents can be studied in the following:
16.4.1 Soil Profiles
We all know the importance of soil in our ecosystem, as it is crucial for plant and
animal life due to its vitality as a growth substrate for their development and
continual growth. But this crucial resource of life is adversely affected by the
presence organic and inorganic contaminants that are produced during tannery
operation and discharge with effluent waste. The area of soil adjacent to tanneries
are adversely affected by pollutants and lead to heavy metal contamination in the
agricultural soil notably shown in areas of Kanpur, Jajmau in India. Continuous
application of sludge for irrigation causes accumulation of heavy metals in soil, such
as cadmium, zinc, lead, chromium, manganese, and many more, and it will lead to
the release of heavy metal into groundwater or soil solution available for plant intake
due to reduction in soil capacity to retain heavy metal. Soil contamination with
heavy metal or micronutrients in phytotoxic concentrations affects adversely both
human health as well as plants (Avudainayagam et al. 2003). As the land is irrigated
with the wastewater rich in chromium sulphate, it leads to the increase in the amount
16 Environmental Impact and Treatment of Tannery Waste
585
Pollution due to tannery industries causes horrible ecological crisis to which we are
subjected in the modern time. Due to improper management practices, tannery
industry is polluting the environment day by day, and further condition becomes
worsen as nearly 95% of tannery industries are built in unplanned way throughout
the world (Kaul et al. 2005). Wastes generated from tanneries are the primary
pollutant to the environment and has potential to pollute both soil and water because
of its properties, such as discoloration, toxic chemical constituents, and high oxygen
demand (Song et al. 2000).
Most of the tanneries throughout the world use chromium salts for tanning
purpose in order to provide better leather water resistance, flexibility, and high
shrinkage temperature, but chromium salts are not fixed completely by hides, and
the remaining nearly 70% joins the spent tanning liquor (Cassano et al. 2007). High
amount of chromium has mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects on animals, humans, and many plants along with bacteria inhabiting aquatic environments
(Naik et al. 2007). This may lead to effects, such as headache; dizziness; irritation to
skin, eyes, and lungs; poisoning of kidney, liver, or nervous system; or collapse due
to insufficient oxygen (Lippmann 2000).
Chromium pollution is increasing in the world due to the increase in tannery
industries and can be notably observed in countries, such as India, Pakistan,
South Africa, Latin America, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Sudan, where a large
number of tannery industries are operating, and all of them are releasing waste
containing toxic chromium and phenolics (Felsner and Kiruthu 1996). More specifically, adverse effect of tannery effluents can be studied in the following:
16.4.1 Soil Profiles
We all know the importance of soil in our ecosystem, as it is crucial for plant and
animal life due to its vitality as a growth substrate for their development and
continual growth. But this crucial resource of life is adversely affected by the
presence organic and inorganic contaminants that are produced during tannery
operation and discharge with effluent waste. The area of soil adjacent to tanneries
are adversely affected by pollutants and lead to heavy metal contamination in the
agricultural soil notably shown in areas of Kanpur, Jajmau in India. Continuous
application of sludge for irrigation causes accumulation of heavy metals in soil, such
as cadmium, zinc, lead, chromium, manganese, and many more, and it will lead to
the release of heavy metal into groundwater or soil solution available for plant intake
due to reduction in soil capacity to retain heavy metal. Soil contamination with
heavy metal or micronutrients in phytotoxic concentrations affects adversely both
human health as well as plants (Avudainayagam et al. 2003). As the land is irrigated
with the wastewater rich in chromium sulphate, it leads to the increase in the amount
16 Environmental Impact and Treatment of Tannery Waste
585