Jogendra Singh

Impact of Glass Industry Effluent Disposal on Soil Characteristics in Haridwar Region, India

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of glass industry effluent on soil characteristics in the province of Asahi India glass Ltd. located in the Haridwar region, India. The results showed that the values of TS (1620.5 mg L-1), TDS (1435.25 mg L-1), TSS (364.25 mg L-1), EC (1.34 dS m-1), BOD (1447.75 mg L -1), COD (3029.00 mg L-1), Cl(446.00 mg L -1), Ca2+ (164.47 mg L -1), Cr (7.64 mg L -1), Cu (2.06 mg L-1), Pb (2.07 mgL -1) and Zn (0.44 ± 0.08 mg L -1) in the glass industry effluent were found beyond the prescribed limit of BIS standards. The glass industry effluent disposal decreased the moisture content, WHC and increased pH, EC, Cl-, OC, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4 3-, SO4 2-, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn of the soil in comparison to control soil. The contamination factor of heavy metals in the soil was recorded in the order of Pb > Cd > Cr > Fe > Zn > Cu after disposal of glass industry effluent. Among different heavy metals Pb (11.31) showed maximum contamination whereas Cu (2.23) showed minimum contamination. Therefore, the results indicated that the effluent of glass industry was rich in certain nutrients as well as heavy metals. Consequently, disposal of glass industry effluent significantly altered the soil quality and affected the natural composition of the soil. *Corresponding author: Vinod Kumar, Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar-249404, Uttarakhand, India, E-mail: drvksorwal@gmail.com Citation: Kumar, V., et al. Impact of Glass Industry Effluent Disposal on Soil Characteristics in Haridwar Region, India. (2016) J Environ Health Sci 2(2): 18. Impact of Glass Industry Effluent Disposal on Soil Characteristics in Haridwar Region, India Vinod Kumar*, Chopra, A.K, Sachin Srivastava, Vishvendra Tomar, Roushan K. Thakur, Jogendra Singh Received date: May 14, 2016 Accepted date: August 24, 2016 Published date: August 31, 2016 DOI: 10.15436/2378-6841.16.923 of this chapter; to overcome the contamination of industrial discharge [Ahmad, M., et al 2008, Baskaran, L., et al 2009, Kumar, V., et al 2014d] Aquatic ecosystems are still suffering from the large amount of hazardous compounds introduced into them by man. The presence of heavy metals in aquatic environment may render it unsuitable for some fauna and flora, and the potential risk of bioaccumulation along the food chain cannot be over emphasized [Zafar, S., et al 2007, Kumar, V., et al 2012a, Kumar, V., et al 2012b, Kumar, V., et al 2015]. Take for instance, many industries discharge raw, untreated and highly toxic wastes (effluents) into open gutters, drains, streams, ponds, canals, river, etc. Effects of this act have almost rendered many of our surface water system unsafe for domestic, agricultural, recreational and other beneficial uses, destroy life, poison the natural ecosystems and even threat to human life. Little wonder that water-related