Impact Of Industrial Effluent On Surface And Ground Water

摘要

Industrial chemicals are released into the atmosphere by point and non-point sources, which in turn undergo further chemical reaction and produce more complex compounds viz. polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dioxins etc. The presence of benzene and benzo(α)pyrene [B(α)P] in ambient air, effluents and ground water are directly related to petrochemical paints/thinner and polymer industries. A low parts per trillion (ppt) to parts per billion (ppb) levels of benzene and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been reported in the environment. Studies have shown the formation of malignant lymphomas in mice and rats, when exposed to benzene dose of 960 mg benzene m~(-3). Benzene appears to be of low acute toxicity in various animal species with LD_(50) values after oral exposure ranging between 5000 and 8100 mgkg~(-1) body weight in the rat. Benzene and B(α)P are highly lipid soluble and adsorbed by the lungs and guts of mammals, inhaled and predominantly adsorbed in root particles. Among PAHs B(α)P has high potential for carcinogenicity. Benzene is volatile in nature escape out with time in surface water, but its presence in deep ground water is there because of high vapour pressure. The presence of benzene and B(α)P in surface waste water and ground water have been reported by Borneff and Kunte, (1964 and 1965) and Samoilovich and Redkin (1968). World Health Organisation (2000) has regulated the health related guideline values for benzene and B(α)P as 10 and 0.7 μgL~(-1) respectively in drinking water. The data representing the impacts of industrial effluents on surface and ground water have been carried out for benzene and B(α)P reported in the paper.