Hazards of industrial waste water in Pakistan

Soil pollution with heavy metals due to discharge of untreated urban and industrial
wastewater is a major threat to ecological integrity and human well-being. Urban
development caused momentous alteration to the environment by increasing the
waste material accumulation through anthropogenic activities (Chen, 2007). In
urban and peri urban areas, land contamination with toxic metals is common as a
result of industrial and municipal activity. Wastewater irrigation to increase the
yield of food crops (vegetables) is the principal source of contamination in urban
agricultural lands (Qadir et al., 2000). These effluents are rich in toxic metals and
are a chief contributor to metals loading in waste irrigated and amended soils
(Singh et al., 2004 and Mapanda et al., 2005).
The total number of industries working in Pakistan is estimated to be
approximately 670 out of which Karachi has 300 industries and rests are located
in Punjab (Ara, 1999). A number of industrial estates are well-known at
Faisalabad, Nooriabad, Sheikhupura, Gadoon Amazai, G.T. Road etc., which are
without any appropriate planning (Govt. of Pakistan, 1991). Even well-planned
capital city of Islamabad lacks proper management of effluents in its two industrial
estates and wastes are drained into the Sawan River (Mian et al., 1998). Ensink et
al. (2004) estimated that 32,500 ha area is irrigated with waste water in Pakistan.
Jan et al. (2010) also reported the higher concentration of Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+,
Cr2+and Pb2+ in the soil irrigated with the wastewater from Peshawar, Pakistan. The
industries produce three types of waste viz. solid waste, waste water (effluent) and
atmospheric emissions which have rigorous detrimental effects on the environment
(Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997). In developing countries, untreated
city effluent is generally disposed onto agricultural lands to establish urban
cultivation around big cities (Hernandez et al., 1991; Qadir and Ghafoor, 1997).
In the periphery of big cities and areas with unavailability of natural surface
drains, farmers use sewage water and drainage water for crop production as it is
not costly (Lone and Rizwan, 1997) Industrial waste water has quite large amount
of valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium (Ghafoor et al.,
1994). ). So the agricultural soils of urban areas of Pakistan are frequently
irrigated with the city effluents for cultivating vegetables (Qadir et al., 1998).
Vegetables play important role in meeting the food requirements of people world-
wide, because they areimportant source of various essential components i.e.
minerals, dietary fibers and vitamins (Ogle et al., 2001; Mukerji, 2004). They are
also potential source of essential nutrients, constitutes functional food components
by providing protein, iron and calcium which have noticeable health effects (Arai,
2002). Vegetables especially leafy vegetables are grown in soils affected with toxic
heavy metals like Nickel ,etc. Aluminum (Al) and chromium (Cr) stresses often
happen simultaneously in agricultural soils, and cause an enormous damage to
crop productivity, growth and product safety (Ali et al., 2011). In such condition,
vegetables accumulate elevated amounts of heavy metals as compared to those
grown in unaffected soils because they absorb these(Nickel, Chromium, Copper,
Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium and Zinc) metals through their leaves (Al Jassir et al.,
2005). A variation in the metal concentration may be due to the variable factors
like heavy metal concentration in soil wastewater used for irrigation and
atmospheric deposition along with the plants capability to uptake and accumulate
the heavy metals (Pandey et al., 2012).

Exposure of vegetables to these toxic metals can pose a variety of physiological

and biochemical disorders (Ali et al., 2011). Farooq et al., (2008) performed an
experiment with vegetables irrigated with waste water from different industries in
Faisalabad and analyzed the presence of various heavy metals. They found that the
concentration of Cadmium, Copper, Chromium, Lead and Zinc was less than the
suggested maximum tolerab le levels (0.01mgkg-1, 10.00 mg kg-1, 1.30 mg kg-1,
2mg kg-1 and 5.00 mg kg-1 respectively as reported by WHO,1996). Murtaza et
al., (2003) determined irrigation quality of city effluents of Kernailwala and
Judgewala in Faisalabad and checked its impact on vegetables quality. There was
greater accumulation of heavy metals in leaves than in their respective fruits.
Concentration of Maganese in plants was much elevated than those of Cobalt and
Cadmium. The accumulation of metals beyond tolerable limits was found in edible
parts i.e. fruits or leaves in spite of the fact that the soils contained them within
permissible range. Bioaccumulation of metal contaminants in the food chain leads
to disastrous effects on human health (Shakoor et al., 2013). Toxic metals can enter
the human body by consumption of contaminated food crops, water or inhalation
of dust (Cambra et al., 1999) It has been estimated that more than 70% of dietary
intake of cadmium is contributed via food chain (Wagner, 1993). It was observed
that continuous intake of Cadmium (Cd) from food and water results in
accumulation of Cd in the kidneys and causes many kidney diseases
(ATSDR,1993). Nickel (Ni) becomes hazardous if its concentration exceeds more
than the recommended limit of 12 mg per person per day in food (Nriagu and
Pacyna, 1988; Anon, 1985). Heavy metal accumulation in plants results in
degradation of basal ganglia of liver and brain and mental retardation in human
and animals (Misra and Dinesh,1991).

Many researchers documented that under different 146 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
concentrations of textile and paper effluents etc. there is improved seedling lengths
of various crops (Orhue et al., 2005; Nawaz et al., 2006; Akbar et al., 2007;
Dhanam, 2009). But it has been stated that high amounts of heavy metals in soils
hinder plant growth, physiological,metabolic processes and nutrient uptake
(Kirkham, 1983). Many researchers predicted that at high concentration of
numerous effluents such as textile, paper, marble, dairy and brewery along with
high osmotic pressure, result in decreased germination (Ramana et al., 2002;
Nagada et al., 2006). Mohammad and Khan (1985) noticed that kidney bean and
lady finger had reduced germinationpercentage in the presence of industrial
effluent. However there was no hazardous effect in the presence of treated waste
effluent.

Hence heavy metal pollution, a global problem and its remediation can be
enhanced by phytoremediation.