Impact of Leather Industries on Fluoride Dynamics in Groundwater Around a Tannery Cluster in South India

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2013-03, Vol.90 (3), p.338-343
• Main Author: Sajil Kumar, P. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aquatic Pollution; Calcite; Clusters; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorides; Fluorides - analysis; Groundwater; Groundwater - chemistry; Groundwater pollution; India; Kinetics; Leather & leather products; Pollution; Pollution control; Principal components analysis; Samples; Saturation index; Seasons; Sodium chloride; Soil Science & Conservation; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Tanneries; Tannery wastes; Tanning; Tanning industry; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment and pollution; Weathering
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-012-0929-8

The aim of this study was to investigate the controls of leather industries on fluoride contamination in and around a tannery cluster in Vaniyambadi. Hydrochemical analysis, mineral saturation indices and statistical methods were used to evaluate the intervening factors that controls the contamination processes. Fluoride in groundwater is exceeded the WHO guideline value (1.5 mg/L), in 62 % of the samples, mostly with Na–HCO 3 and Na–Cl type of water. Results of the principal component analysis grouped Na, F, HCO 3 and NO 3 under component 1. This result was in agreement with the cross plot indicating high positive correlation between F and Na ( r 2  = 0.87), HCO 3 ( r 2  = 0.84) and NO 3 ( r 2  = 0.55). Fluorite (CaF 2 ) and Halite (NaCl) was undersaturated, while calcite (CaCO 3 ) was oversaturated for all the samples. This suggest more dissolution of F-rich minerals under the active supports of Na. Bivariate plots of Na versus Cl and Na + K versus HCO 3 showed a combined origin of Na from tannery effluent as well as silicate weathering. Two major clusters, based on the Na, HCO 3 and F concentration showed that groundwater is affected by tanneries and silicate weathering. Fluoride concentration in 38 % of samples ( n  =  5 ) have significantly affected by the high Na concentration from tanneries.