Abstract

IMPACT OF LEAD ON ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH –A REVIEW

Sandhya Kanupuru* and Dr. J. Pramoda Kumari

Abstract

The tanning leather industry, one of the most widespread industries, produce large amount of waste-water containing toxic pollutants which include heavy metals such as mercury, Lead, cadmium, selenium, copper, chromium, arsenic, pesticides and radionuclides that cause great environmental problems. The environment is under increasing pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating from the leather industry. Pollution is depicted stepwise along the leather processing phases with a selected xenobiotic and contaminants. Toxic pollution due to Lead causes immense harm to humans which include physical and mental disabilities, reduced IQ, organ dysfunction, neurological disorders, cancers, reduced life expectancy, and in some cases, death. The effluents must be handled carefully and should be treated before its reuse or disposal in water bodies. In recent years, the research for the removal of toxic metals has focused on new technologies rather than conventional methods like ion exchange, chemical precipitation, ultra filtration and so on which are expensive, need energy and can produce waste products that require careful disposal. One of the effective bioremediation methods is the biosorption, where the heavy metals like Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb detected in an industrial wastewater effluent can be biosorbed by fungi. Of all the heavy metals Lead plays a major role in affecting the human life of all age groups and the environment. Finance, health, and environmental agencies in recipient countries are responsible for setting their own development agendas to educate about the scope of Lead and other heavy metals within their countries in order to pursue international resources.

Keywords: xenobiotic, tannery, effluent, bioremediation, biosorption.