Impact of Leather Toxicity on People and Places: A Review

Abstract

The production of the most luxurious form of textile, i.e. Leather, has always been associated with environmental toxicity. The royal texture and firm durability of leather demands animal as well as environmental sacrifices. The process of leather production not only introduces chemicals in the environment but also causes undeniable animal abuse. The leather manufacturing process involves beam house operations and tanning procedures involving toxic chemicals rich in heavy metals and carcinogens. The effluents from the leather tanneries expose these toxins into the environment, posing a threat to different life forms. The increased toxin load from tannery effluents has percolated the food chain, thus inducing toxicity in human beings. The effect of lather manufacturing has been mostly observed in occupational regions displaying evidence of severe respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal tract infections, skin infections, chromium toxicity in biological fluids and high risk of morbidity. Different studies have been performed on regions receiving tannery discharge indicating toxin exposure affecting agricultural land, water systems, plants and aquatic life forms. The present study reviews sources of toxicity in the leather manufacturing process and describes bioassays that can be utilized to study the effect of leather toxicity on the ecosystem. The study mentions examples of sustainable alternatives and waste management for tanneries that can be explored to provide an insight for better future of leather industries.