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

Abstract

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.

Full text

Journal of Environment
and Health Sciences
Keywords: Glass industry efuent; Heavy metal; Pollution; Soil characteristics
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
Introduction
Industrialization has become an important factor to the development of a country’s economy, through the establishment
of plants and factories [Megharaj, M., et al, 2003, Samuel, S., et al.2011]. However, the waste or by-products discharged from them
are severely disastrous to the environment consists various kind of contaminant which contaminate the surface water, ground water
and soil [Jain, C., et al 2005, Janardhana Raju, N., et al 2009, Kumar, V., et al 2011, Kumar, V., et al 2012c]. There are a number of
reasons the waste are not safely treated. One of the reasons is mainly due to the lacking of highly efcient and economic treatment
technology [Kumar, V., et al 2014a]. The focus of this chapter is to give a detail illustration at the effect of industrial discharge and
on the environment and human health. Some corrective actions shall also be illustrated in the later part 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 eco-
systems 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 ora, 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 (efuents) 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,
Copyrights: © 2016 Kumar, V. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License. 1
Kumar, V., et al.
Research Article Open Access
Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri Universi-
ty, Haridwar, (Uttarakhand), India
Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess the impact of glass industry efuent
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 efuent were found
beyond the prescribed limit of BIS standards. The glass industry efuent disposal de-
creased 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 efuent. Among different heavy
metals Pb (11.31) showed maximum contamination whereas Cu (2.23) showed mini-
mum contamination. Therefore, the results indicated that the efuent of glass industry
was rich in certain nutrients as well as heavy metals. Consequently, disposal of glass in-
dustry efuent signicantly 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 Environ-
mental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar-249404, Uttarakhand, India, E-mail: drvksorwal@gmail.com
Citation: Kumar, V., et al. Impact of
Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on
Soil Characteristics in Haridwar Re-
gion, India. (2016) J Environ Health
Sci 2(2): 1- 10.
Impact of Glass Industry Efuent 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

2
recreational and other benecial uses, destroy life, poison the natural ecosystems and even threat to human life. Little wonder that
water-related disease such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, dysentery, guinea worm, poliomyelitis, skin diseases are
rampant in the country, both in the urban and rural communities [Vijayaragavan, M., et al 2011]. Though, most importantly children,
who normally have low immunity, and rural populace with poor healthcare facilities, are particularly vulnerable victims of these
epidemics [Zafar, S., et al 2007, Srinivasa, Gowd, S., et al 2000, Tandi, N.K., et al 2004]. Pollution may be dened as undesirable
changes in physical chemical and biological characteristics of soil, which are harmful for all living organisms. Environmental pol-
lution is an emerging threat and of great concern in today’s context pertaining to its effect on the ecosystem. Water pollution is one
of the greatest concerns now a day. In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to industrial wastes discharged to land and
surface water. Industrial efuent often contains various toxic metals, harmful dissolved gases, and several inorganic and organic
compounds [Perfus Barbeoch, L., et al 2002, Purushotham, D., et al 2011].
The contamination of metals is a major environmental problem and especially in the aquatic environment [Kumar, V., et al
2014a, Kumar, V., et al 2014b, Kumar, V., et al 2014e]. Some metals are potentially toxic or carcinogenic even at very low concen-
tration and are thus, hazardous to human if they enter the food chain [Biswas, A.K., et al 2009, Hati, K.M., et al 2007, Kumar, V.,
et al 2013b, Kumar, V., et al 2013c]. Metals are usually dissolved into the aquatic system through natural or anthropogenic sources.
Metal ions are distributed thoroughly during their transport in different compartments of the aquatic ecosystems, in biotic or abiotic
compartment such as shes, water, sediment, plant. Metals remain in contaminated sediments may accumulate in microorganisms
which in return entering into the food chain and eventually affect human well being [Shakeri, A., et al 2009, Kumar, V., et al 2013a,
Kumar, V. et al 2014b, Baruah, B.K., et al 1998, Kumar, V., et al 2014c, Kumar, V., et al 2014].
The glass industry includes a variety of manufacturing facilities and products. It produces glass objects from a wide range
of raw materials among which the most important ones are silica sand, glass cullet, and intermediate / modifying materials such as
soda ash, limestone, dolomite, and feldspar [Werner, V, et al 1994]. The most signicant water use occurs during cooling and cullet
cleaning. As a result liquid efuents discharged from glass manufacture industries. Discharges may be affected by glass solids, some
soluble glass-making materials (e.g. sodium sulfate), some organic compounds caused by lubricant oil used in the cutting process,
and treatment chemicals (e.g. dissolved salts and water treatment chemicals) for the cooling-water system [Werner, V, et al 1994].
Metal emission is an important issue in some sub-sectors (e.g. lead crystal and frits production); however, this problem is present
in all other glass manufacturing sectors to a lesser degree. Heavy metals may be present as minor impurities in some raw materials,
in cullet, and in fuels. Lead and cadmium are used in uxes and coloring agents in the frit industry. Particulates from lead crystal
manufacture may have a lead content of 20 – 60 percent. Special glass manufactures may release arsenic, antimony, and selenium
(the coloring agent in bronze glass or decolouring agent in some clear glasses). In the recent past various studies has been made on
the effects of different industrial efuent on soil characteristics [Jain, C., et al 2005, Zafar, S., et al 2007, Tandi, N.K., et al 2004,
Hati, K.M., et al 2007, Kumar, V., et al 2004]. But there is scanty of scientic reports of impact of glass industry efuent on soil
properties [Shakeri, A., et al 2009, Kumar, V. et al 2014b]. Keeping in view of efuent generation and their effects on soil properties
the present investigation was conducted to study the physico-chemical characteristics of Asahi India Glass Ltd. Industry efuent and
assess its pollution load and to study the impact of glass industry efuent disposal on physico-chemical characteristics.
Materials and Methods
Study area, collection of efuent samples and analysis
The Asahi India Glass Ltd. Jhabrera, Roorkee, Haridwar (29°47’50”N 77°48’23”E) was selected for the collection of ef-
uent samples. The glass industry is located about 45 Km away from Haridwar at Haridwar Saharanpur via Jhabrera Highway. For
analysis of various physico-chemical and parameters the efuent samples were collected from the efuent disposal channel. The
samples were collected in thoroughly cleaned plastic container of 5 liters capacity provides with the double cap device. Some of
the parameters like pH were carried out on the spot and dissolved oxygen (DO) was also xed on the spot because time consumed
during transportation could alter the results. Remaining parameters could be carried out on composite sample. The collected samples
were brought to the laboratory and were analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters viz., total solids (TS), total dissolved
solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, DO, bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical
oxygen demand (COD), chlorides (Cl-), calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), total Kjehldahl nitrogen
(TKN), phosphate (PO4
3-) and sulfate (SO4
2-) and heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb)
and zinc (Zn) following standard techniques [APHA In, 2005, Chaturvedi, R.K.,et al 2006].
Soil sampling and analysis:
Total six composite soil samples from the surface (0-20 cm) were collected in the vicinity of efuent disposal channel origi-
nated from Asahi India Glass Ltd. The bore well water irrigated soil was taken as control. The samples were brought to the laborato-
ry and dried in clean plastic trays for 7 days at room temperature and then sieved through a 2-mm or 5-mm sieve. The samples were
analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters namely soil moisture content, water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density (BD),
pH, EC, Cl-, organic carbon (OC), Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4
3-, SO4
2-, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn following standard methods
[Chaturvedi, R.K.,et al 2006].
Heavy metal analysis:
For heavy metals analysis 10 ml sample of efuent, 100 ml sample of bore well water and 0.5 g sample of soil was digested
with a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and HClO4 (10 ml + 2 ml) separately. The digested samples were ltered through Whatman
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
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Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
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lter No. 42 and nally volume were made 50 ml with 0.1N HNO3 and analyzed for heavy metals using AAS (Model ECIL-4129).
The contamination of heavy metals in the soil was determined by following the standard methods [Håkanson, L, 1980].
Mean content of metal in the sample
Contamination factor (Cf) = Background metal content of the substance
Data interpretation and statistical analysis:
Data were analyzed for one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for determining the difference between soil parameters
before and after efuent irrigation, crop parameters and efuent concentration, standard deviation, coefcient of correlation for soil,
crop parameters and efuent concentrations were also calculated with the help of MS Excel 2003, SPSS12.0 and Sigma plot, 2000.
Results and Discussion
Characteristics of glass industry efuent:
During the present study the values of total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) in
the glass industry efuent were recorded to be signicantly (P < 0.05) different in comparison to the values of groundwater (Table 1
Figure 1). Kumar and Chopra et al 2014 recorded the more values of TS (860 mgL-1) in the paper mill efuent while Baruah and Das
1998, also found the higher values of TDS (1945.44 mgL-1), TSS (245.50 mgL-1) in the paper mill efuent. Moreover, the values of
TS (2100 mgL-1) and TDS (1900 mgL-1) were found within the permissible limit while the values of TSS (200) was recorded beyond
the prescribed limit of BIS standards for inland disposal of treated water.
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
TS TDS TSS
Parameters
Conte nt (mg L1 -)
Groundwat er
Effluent
Figure 1: The contents of TS, TDS and TSS in the glass industry efuent. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
The value of electrical conductivity (EC) was observed (1.34 dS m-1) in the glass industry efuent was recorded higher in
contrast to the value of the EC (0.10 dS m-1) in the groundwater. The higher values of EC (8.84dS m-1) were also reported by Kumar
and Chopra 2014, in the distillery efuent. The value of pH (8.07) of the glass industry efuent was recorded to be more alkaline in
comparison to the pH (7.61) of the groundwater and the value of pH was found within the range of the pH (6.5 - 8.5 and 5.5 - 9.0)
prescribed by BIS for irrigation water. The ndings were in accordance with El-Bestawy et al. 2008 who reported the alkaline pH
of the paper mill efuent. The value of dissolved oxygen in the glass industry efuent was observed to be nil. Therefore, the glass
industry efuent was not suitable for inland disposal. Kumar and Chopra 2014c, also found the lower values of DO (4.78 mgL-1) in
the treated sugar mill efuent.
The values of BOD, COD and chlorides was recorded signicantly (P < 0.01) higher in the glass industry efuent when
compared to the values of groundwater and it is likely due to the presence of more inorganic and organic load in the glass industry
efuent (Table 1 Figure 2). The value of BOD (4.0 mg L-1 and 100 mg L-1) and COD (250 mg L-1) was found beyond the prescribed
limit of BIS standards for irrigation water. Fazeli et al. 1998 also reported the higher values of BOD (1840.50 mgL-1) in the paper
mill efuent whereas, Ghaly et al. 2011 reported the more COD (2450.60 mgL-1) in the paper mill efuent. Howe et al. 1996 who
observed the higher values of chlorides (360.00 mgL-1) in the paper mill efuent. The values of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4
3- and
SO4
2- in the glass industry efuent were observed to be signicantly (P < 0.01) higher in comparison to the values of there parameters
in the groundwater (Table 1 Figure 3). The contents of TKN (22.68 mg L-1), PO4
3- (7.79 mg L-1) and SO4
2- (878 mg L-1) in the glass
industry efuent were observed to be signicantly (P < 0.05) higher in comparison to the contents of TKN (1.59 mg L-1), PO4
3- (0.42
mg L-1) and SO4
2- (340.25 mg L-1) in the groundwater. Kumar and Chopra 2014, also reported the more Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN,
PO4
3- and SO4
2- in the sugar mill efuent while Lacorte et al. 2003 also reported the more sulphate in the paper mill efuent.
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
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Kumar, V., et al.
Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics

4J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
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Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
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0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
BOD COD Cl -
Parameters
Conte nt (mg L
1-
)
Groundwat er
Effluent
Figure 2: The contents of BOD, COD and Cl- in the glass industry efuent. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Na+ K+ Ca2+ Mg2+
Parameters
Content (mg L1-)
Groundwater
Efflue nt
Figure 3: The contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the glass industry efuent. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
Contents of heavy metals in the glass industry efuent:
In the present study the value of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the glass industry efuent were recorded to be signicantly
higher in comparison to the values of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn observed in the groundwater (Table 1 Figure 4) The value of Cd (1.5
mg L-1), (2.0 mg L -1), Cu (1.0 mg L -1), Fe (15 mg L -1), Pb (3.00 mg L -1) and Zn (1.00 mg L -1) were found beyond the prescribed
limit of BIS standards for irrigation water. The heavy metals are at very low concentrations in the natural environment, and they are
typically introduced to surface waters as waste from human activities. Some of the metals of concern for human and aquatic health
are cadmium, lead, copper, mercury, selenium, and chromium etc. The ndings were in agreement with Patterson et al. 2008, who
reported more values of heavy metals in the paper mill efuent.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Cd Cr Cu Fe Pb Zn
Heavy metals
Conte nt (mg L
1-
)
Groundwat er
Effluent
Figure 4: The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the glass industry efuent. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.

Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
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Kumar, V., et al.
Table 1: Physico-chemical characteristics of control (Bore well water) and Glass industry efuent.
Parameter Borewell water Efuent BIS for drinking water BIS for irrigation water
TS( mg L-1)178.25 ± 4.65 1620.5 ± 7.72 600 2100
TDS( mg L-1)140.25 ± 9.07 1435.25 ± 9.36 500 1900
TSS( mg L-1)20.00 ± 3.65 364.25 ± 6.95 100 200
EC(dS m-1)0.10 ± 0.03 1.34 ± 0.19 - -
pH 7.61 ± 0.30 8.07 ± 0.45 6.5 - 8.5 5.5 - 9.0
DO( mg L-1)8.64 ± 1.25 NIL 6-8 -
BOD( mg L-1)5.30 ± 0.78 1447.75 ± 8.34 4.0 100
COD( mg L-1)18.77 ± 1.73 3029.00 ± 18.31 150 - 200 250
Cl- ( mg L-1)183.00 ± 2.58.00 446.00 ± 9.38 250 500
Na+ ( mg L-1)11.40 ± 1.46 40.92 ± 2.95 - -
K+ ( mg L-1)18.38 ± 1.65 82.10 ± 3.05 - -
Ca2+ ( mg L-1)34.27 ± 1.96 164.47 ± 8.91 75 200
Mg2+ (mg L-1)17.50 ± 2.11 31.30 ± 3.72 - -
TKN (mg L-1)1.59 ± 0.31 22.68 ± 3.29 100
PO4
3- ( mg L-1)0.42 ± 0.19 7.79 ± 0.20 - -
SO4
2- ( mg L-1)340.25 ± 4.26 878.00 ± 13.73 200 1000
Cd ( mg L-1)ND 0.23 ± 0.2275 0.05 1.5
Cr ( mg L-1)ND 7.64 ± 8.0725 0.05 2.0
Cu (mg L-1)0.45 ± 0.08 2.06 ± 0.82 0.30 1.0
Fe ( mg L-1)1.25 ± 0.32 2.68 ± 0.61 5.00 15
Pb ( mg L-1)0.01 ± 0.01 2.07 ± 0.01 0.05 3.00
Zn ( mg L-1)0.00 ± 0.01 0.44 ± 0.08 0.05 1.00
Mean ± SD of six values; BWW - Borewell water; BIS- Bureau of Indian standard; ND-Not detected.
Effects of glass industry efuent disposal on soil characteristics:
The value of soil moisture content (33.52 ± 2.47%) and WHC (40.81%) of the glass industry efuent irrigated soil was de-
creased in comparison to the moisture content (41.85%) and WHC (44.84%) of the groundwater irrigated soil. recorded in the glass
industry efuent contaminated soil. Miller and Turk 2002, have indicated that the moisture content of soil is useful and an important
factor which affects the pH, availability of nutrients to plant and aeration. Moreover, the presence of large soil particles reduces the
soil moisture content. In the present study there was no drastic change in the bulk density (1.43 ± 0.10 gm cm-3) of the soil after glass
industry efuent disposal. Haynes and Naidu 1998 and Celik et al 2005 reported a reduction in BD with addition of organic matter.
The reduction in BD (uniformly repacked) was due to higher organic matter content in the treatments where paper mill efuent was
added.
The EC (1.96 ± 0.07 dS m-1) of the glass industry efuent contaminated soil was signicantly (P < 0.01) increased to
125.28% when compared to groundwater irrigated soil. The increase in the EC of the efuent irrigated soil is likely due to the
presence of more salts in the glass industry efuent [Kumar, V., et al 2013b]. Mohan et al. 2007 concluded that the EC of water and
wastewater is due to the presence of total dissolved solids. It is an important criterion to determine the suitability of water and waste
water for irrigation. Soils have alkaline pH levels that are greater than 7. If these soils have excessive amount of salts (i.e. EC > 4
dS m-1) they are classied as saline soils. The pH of the glass industry efuent contaminated soil was recorded to be more alkaline
(8.14) with the insignicantly (P > 0.05) increase to 3.82% in comparison to control soil. Charman and Murphy 1991, reported that
the basic pH of the soil is to reduce the solubility of all micronutrients (except chlorine, boron and molybdenum), especially those
of iron, zinc, copper and manganese.
During the present study the values of Cl-, PO4
3-, SO4
2-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, in the glass industry efuent contaminated
soil was signicantly (P < 0.01) increased in comparison to the control soil (Table 2, Figures 5, 6) . The content of Cl- (75.01%),
PO4
3- (235.51%), SO4
2- (29.79%), Na+ (106.49%), K+ (34.19%), Ca2+ (122.73%), Mg2+ (144.54%), TKN (45.16%) and OC (34.61%)
increased in comparison to the groundwater irrigated soil. The contents of TKN (43.49 mg Kg -1) and OC (0.35 mg Kg -1) were sig-
nicantly (P < 0.05) increased in the glass industry efuent irrigated soil when compared to the values of TKN (29.96 mg Kg -1) and
OC (0.26 mg Kg -1) in the control soil. Kumar and Chopra 2013a reported the higher values of Cl- and TKN in the paper mill efuent
irrigated soul in comparison to bore well water irrigated soil. Biswas et al. 2009 recorded the more values of sodium and calcium in
the distillery efuent irrigated soil. Baskaran et al. 2009 reported the higher values of Mg2+ in the sugar mill efuent irrigated soil.
Efuent irrigation generally adds signicant quantities of salts to the soil environment, such as sulfates, phosphates, bicarbonates,
chlorides of the cations sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium that stimulate the growth at lower concentration but inhibit at
higher concentration reported by Patterson et al. 2008. Miller and Turk 2002 reported that potassium is the third most commonly
added fertilizer nutrient (nitrogen is the most used; phosphorus is the second). Potassium is known to affect cell division, cell perme-
ability formation of carbohydrates, translocation of sugars, various enzyme actions and resistance of some plants to certain diseases.

6
Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
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Biswas et al 2009, recorded the more values of organic carbon, phosphate and sulphate in the distillery efuent irrigated soil.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Cl-
PO43-
SO42-
Content (mg Kg1-)
Soil param eters
Contr ol soil
Efflue nt irr igated soil
Figure 5: The contents of Cl-, PO4
3- and SO4
2- in the glass industry efuent irrigated soil. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Na+ K+ Ca2+ Mg2+
Soil parameters
Conte nt (mg K g
1-
)
Control soil
Effluent ir riga ted s oil
Figure 6: The contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the glass industry efuent irrigated soil. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
Table 2: Physico-chemical characteristics of soil before and after disposal of Glass industry efuent.
Soil moisture (%) 41.85 ± 2.62 33.52a ± 2.47
(-19.90) 7.071291* 3.182446
WHC (%) 44.84 ± 3.50 40.81 ± 3.21
(-8.98) 2.661559NS 3.182446
BD (gm cm-3)1.43 ± 0.10 1.43 ± 0.10
(0.00) 0.253849 NS 3.182446
pH 7.84 ± 0.13 8.14 ± 0.15
(+3.82) 2.29528 NS 3.182446
EC (dS m-1)0.87 ± 0.04 1.96a ± 0.07
(+125.28) 26.4928* 3.182446
Cl- (mg Kg-1)88.05 ± 9.54 154.10a ± 6.98
(+75.01) 10.216* 3.182446
OC (mg Kg-1)0.26 ± 0.03 0.35a ± 0.02
( + 34.61) 2.1273* 3.182446
Na+ ( mg Kg-1)11.85 ± 1.96 24.47a ± 3.70
(+106.49) 4.82924* 3.182446
K+ ( mg Kg-1)126.91 ± 4.46 170.31a ± 4.27
(+34.19) 16.3426* 3.182446
Ca2+ ( mg Kg-1)22.87 ± 1.66 50.94 ± 4.96
(+122.73) 7.36417* 3.182446

Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
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Kumar, V., et al.
Mg2+ (mg Kg-1)18.70 ± 1.51 45.73a ± 2.29
(+144.54) 12.4942* 3.182446
TKN (mg Kg-1)29.96 ± 3.38 43.49a ± 2.54
(+45.16) 9.98271* 3.182446
PO4
3- ( mg Kg-1)1.83 ± 0.56 6.14a ± 0.37
(+235.51) 18.8531* 3.182446
SO4
2- ( mg Kg-1)148.06 ± 6.32 192.17a ± 5.58
(+29.79) 8.22161* 3.182446
Cd (mg Kg-1)0.105 ± 0.00 1.085a ± 0.28
(+933.33) 7.11562* 3.182446
Cr (mg Kg-1)0.068 ± 0.05 0.690a ± 0.40
(+2082.85) 3.26848* 3.182446
Cu (mg Kg-1)1.040 ± 0.03 2.329a ± 0.19
(+115.47) 15.1429* 3.182446
Fe ( mg Kg-1)1.05 ± 0.03 3.20a ± 0.09
(+107.81) 32.0249* 3.182446
Pb ( mg Kg-1)0.185 ± 0.04 2.093a ± 0.50
(+1031.35) 7.21127* 3.182446
Zn ( mg Kg-1)1.154 ± 0.06 3.370a ± 0.25
(+192.02) 17.8929* 3.182446
Mean ± SD of six values; Signicant t at *P > 5% level; % Increase or decrease in comparison to the control given in parenthesis; a - signicantly
different to the control; NS - Not Signicant.
Contents of heavy metals in the glass industry efuent irrigated soil
Soil contamination is the result of anthropogenic activities, including the entry of industrial wastes into soil through atmo-
spheric deposition or application of agrochemicals and dumping of domestic waste to the land. These contaminants reduce the soil
quality for agricultural production. The soil is a long-term sink for the group of potentially toxic elements often referred to as heavy
metals like zinc, copper, nickel, lead, chromium, and cadmium. While these elements display a range of properties in agricultural
soil, including differences in mobility and bioavailability, leaching losses and plant uptake are usually relatively small compared to
the total quantities entering the soil from different diffuse and agricultural sources.
During the investigation, the values of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the glass industry efuent contaminated soil were ob-
served to be signicantly (P < 0.05) higher when compared to the groundwater irrigated soil (Table 2, Figure. 7). The values of these
metals Cd (933.33%), Cr (2082.85%), Cu (2.329 ± 0.19%), Fe (107.81%), Pb (1031.35%), Zn (192.02%) were increased signi-
cantly (P < 0.05) in the glass industry efuent contaminated soil in comparison to the control soil. Among different heavy metals Pb
(11.31) showed maximum contamination whereas Cu (2.23) showed minimum contamination. 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 efuent (Table 3, Figure.
8). Additionally, the increase in the contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn and Pb are likely due to the presence of more concentration of
these metals in the glass industry efuent. The contents of heavy metals in the glass industry efuent contaminated soil were found
to be below the maximum levels permitted for Cd (6.0 mg Kg-1), Cr (10.0 mg Kg-1), Cu (270 mg Kg-1), Fe (1000 mg Kg-1), Pb (250
mg Kg-1) and Zn (600 mg Kg-1) for soil in India [BIS In, 1991]. Mohammadi et al. 2010 concluded that the use of paper mill lime
sludge as a soil amendment in an acidic soil signicantly increased pH, which was proportional to the application rate of paper mill
sludge.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Cd
Cr
Cu
Fe
Pb
Zn
Conte nt (mg K g
1-
)
Heavy metals
Contr ol soil
Efflue nt irr igat ed soil
Figure 7: The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the glass industry efuent irrigated soil. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.

8
Impact of Glass Industry Efuent Disposal on Soil Characteristics
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 2
www.ommegaonline.org
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Cd
Cr
Cu
Fe
Pb
Zn
Cont amination f actor
Heavy metals
Contamination factor in soil
Figure 8: Contamination factor of heavy metals in the soil after disposal of glass industry efuent. Error bars are the standard error of the mean.
Table 3: Contamination factor (Cf) of various heavy metals in soil after
disposal of Glass industry efuent.
Heavy metals Contamination factor (Cf) in soil
Cd 10.33
Cr 10.14
Cu 2.23
Fe 3.05
Pb 11.31
Zn 2.93
Conclusion
The present study concluded that the efuent of glass industry was considerably loaded with different physico-chemical character-
istics viz., TS, TDS, TSS, EC, BOD, COD, Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4
3- and SO4
2- and heavy metals viz., Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb
and Zn. The disposal of efuent signicantly (P < 0.05/P < 0.01) affected the soil characteristics. The values of soil parameters pH,
EC, Cl-, OC, Na+ , K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, TKN, PO4
3-, SO4
2-, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were signicantly (P < 0.05/P < 0.01) increased after
disposal of glass industry efuent in comparison to control soil. Thus, the disposal of glass industry efuent considerably changed
the soil quality and affected the natural composition of the soil. Such alterations enhanced the nutrients/toxicants status of the soil.
However, the level of inland disposal should be within the prescribed limit of standards to avoid the development of soil salinity in
the long run. Therefore the open land disposal of efuent should be regularly monitored for the alteration of the soil characteristics.
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Journal Title: Journal of Environment and Health Science (JEHS)
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