Leather Tanners Research Articles

The economic space of cities: an analysis of leather tanners in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Rome

AbstractThe aim of this article is to examine the use of suitable archive sources for the study of the economic space of cities in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The research is based on the integration and critical analysis of cartographic, descriptive and quantitative sources of an administrative and fiscal nature, developed by using Geographic Information Systems. The advantage of adopting this approach includes, in addition to the study of spatial relationships amongst economic activities and the urban space, the possibility of investigating discrepancies between the sources, thus facilitating their interpretation.

Contaminantes y aprovechamiento de desechos en curtidoras de León, producir biogás y biodiesel

Los mataderos y curtidoras de cueros causangran contaminación ambiental, principalmente por el cromo trivalente y a veces hexavalente, la sangre, grasas y desechos orgánicos que se descomponen. En León, los mataderos y curtidoras, no siguen los lineamientos para el tratamiento de residuos y reducción de la contaminación. Con este trabajo se busco hacer un estudio de los contaminantes ambientales en las industrias mataderos y curtidoras, realizando mediciones ambientales fisicoquímicas para verificar el impacto ambiental. Se construyó un biodigestor y un mini reactor para obtener de biogás y biodiesel, usando materia prima los residuos, tanto orgánicos, como grasos, como fuente de aprovechamiento y reducción de la contaminación. se dividió en 4 zonas para el análisis, los parámetros fisicoquímicos medidos fueron: pH, CO2 (ppm), O2 disuelto (mg/L), Conductividad (µs/cm), DBO5, DQO, color, olor, aspecto, temperatura, humedad relativa.Según la relación DBO5/DQO, las 4 zonas están encima de 8, esto indica que el agua es más biodegradable y puede ser tratada biológicamente para su limpieza, los niveles de CO2, indican que son adecuados para zonas de ríos, lagos, lagunas y mares, sobre todo donde existe flora que pueda utilizar el CO2. Todos los desechos orgánicos son aprovechables para obtener de biogás (metano).

Curtumes artesanais sob a perspectiva da administração clássica

O atual contexto organizacional é caracterizado pela dinâmica dos mercados, avanços tecnológicos e a necessidade de adaptação das organizações para sobreviver no ambiente competitivo. Assim, pela característica dinâmica, o ambiente organizacional acaba sendo balizado por modernas teorias administrativas. No entanto, é possível a identificação de setores e atividades que são regidos por princípios de teorias consagradas no passado, a exemplo da teoria clássica da administração. Nesse sentido, o seguinte problema de pesquisa foi levantado: os princípios descritos por Fayol na teoria clássica da administração consagrados no passado ainda são vigentes na gestão atual? Para responder a esse questionamento o seguinte objetivo foi colocado: verificar se os princípios descritos por Fayol na teoria clássica de administração consagrados no passado são vigentes na atividade de curtume artesanal de Cabaceiras (PB). Escolheu-se esse setor pela sua representatividade econômica, social e cultural para a região do Cariri paraibano. Para tanto, optou-se pela realização de um estudo exploratório e descritivo, pesquisa documental e realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas com curtidores de couro e agentes de órgãos de apoio. Os dados foram tratados a partir da técnica análise de conteúdo descrita por Badin (1977). Os resultados apontam que os quatorze princípios de Fayol da Administração Clássica são perfeitamente identificados nos curtumes artesanais de Cabaceiras (PB).

Exploring the use of suede dye on leather

The indigenous leather tanners in Ghana lack access to variety in dyes and colourants, this limits the ability of their products to meet the demands of the market. Meanwhile, their livelihood highly depends on the sales of leather and leather artefacts. This study found it imperative to find alternate dyestuffs that are easily obtainable and comfortable to use by local tanners and leather users. The experiment on the use of suede dye on leather was done in three formats. In the first format, suede dye and salt were dissolved in warm water and a sheet of leather was immersed in the solution. In the second format, dye and alum were dissolved together in warm water after which leather was immersed in the solution. In the third experiment, two different colours were mixed separately with alum in warm water and used on the same leather, one after the other. In all cases the dyed leather was rinsed in cold water to remove excess dye and then dried under a shade. The resulting work did not bleed or stain, and was found to be light-fast. Theexperiments proved that suede dye could be used as a colourant for leather.

Can Voluntary Environmental Regulation Work in Developing Countries? Lessons from Case Studies

Hamstrung by weak institutions that undermine conventional environmental regulatory tools, policymakers in developing countries are increasingly turning to voluntary approaches. To date, however, there have appeared few evaluations of these policy experiments. To help fill this gap, we summarize arguments for and against the use of voluntary regulation in developing countries, review the nascent literature on the topic, and present case studies of agreements negotiated between regulators and leather tanners in an industrial city in Mexico, a national environmental audit program in Mexico, and a national public disclosure program in India. Admittedly few in number, these three case studies nevertheless suggest that although voluntary environmental regulation in developing countries is a risky endeavor, it is by no means doomed to failure. The risks can be minimized by emphasizing the dissemination of information about pollution and pollution abatement options and by avoiding voluntary approaches in certain situations—those where regulatory and nonregulatory pressures for improved environmental performance are weak and where polluters can block quantified targets, individual sanctions for noncompliance, and other widely accepted prerequisites of effective voluntary initiatives.

A cohort mortality study of leather tanners in Tuscany, Italy

Work in leather tanning may involve exposure to a wide range of chemicals. Some of these are carcinogens or suspected carcinogens. Increased risk for a number of cancers have been reported, although there are considerable inconsistencies between studies. The present study investigates the mortality of leather tanners in Tuscany, Italy. Tanneries were selected from the 1996 Valdarno Inferiore Tanneries Census and were in operation since December 31, 1970. Employees were followed until December 31, 1998 through company records, and the National and Regional Death Index. Demographic and work history data were abstracted from company payrolls. Regional mortality rates were used to calculate Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR). Analyses were completed for the overall cohort (men and women) and for men who ever worked as of finisher, chrome tanners, and vegetable tanner (only men). The cohort consisted of 4,874 workers (4,150 males and 724 females) employed in 92 tanneries active in 1996 and operating on December 31, 1970. Ascertainment of vital status and cause of death were completed for all individuals by the end of follow-up, December 31, 1998. Males showed increases for cancer of the endocrine glands (SMR 5.67, 4 observed (obs), 90% Confidence Intervals (CI) 195-1,308), blood diseases (SMR 3.29, 4 obs, 90% CI 112-753), mental disorders (SMR 1.95, 6 obs, 90% CI 85-385), violence and accidents (SMR 1.30, 54 obs, 90% CI 102-163). Mortality from myeloid leukemia was increased in males (SMR 2.08, 5 obs, 90% CI 82-437) and in females (SMR 5.99, 2 obs, 90% CI 106-1,887). One death from nasal cancer was observed versus 0.2 expected. Mortality from lung cancer was increased among finishers (SMR 1.45, 19 obs, 90% CI 95-212), an increase was observed also for bladder cancer (SMR 1.25, 2 obs, 90% CI 22-393) and pancreatic cancer (SMR 1.20, 2 obs, 90% CI 21-379). The study confirms previous observations among tanners of increased mortality from lung, bladder, and pancreatic cancer. Noteworthy are the increased mortality from myeloid leukemia together with the new findings of an increased mortality from endocrine glands tumors, blood diseases, and psychiatric disorders which should be considered with caution because of the small number of cases and the novelty of the observation.

Cancer incidence in the Swedish leather tanning industry: updated findings 1958–99

Aims: To assess how a 10 year extension of the follow up period affected cancer incidence in the Swedish leather tanning cohort. Methods: A cohort of 2027 tannery workers (of...

Overview of the Human Carcinogenicity Risk Assessment of Metallic Chromium and Trivalent Chromium

This paper reviews evaluations and studies on the carcinogenicity in humans of metallic chromium and trivalent chromium as well as leather tanning and chromium plating and processing. The evaluations of the potential carcinogenicity of metallic chromium and trivalent chromium by international and national organizations and individual scientists are unanimous in that the evidence of carcinogenicity is inadequate in humans. For some occupational sources of chromium exposure (e.g. ferrochrome industry and manufacture of chrome pigments) and for some occupations (e.g. leather tanners, painters and chrome platers) there are increased risks, but in most epidemiologic studies the available data do not permit discrimination between simultaneous exposure to trivalent and hexavalent chromium. Although the chromium compound that increases the risk of lung cancer and sinonasal cancer has yet to be identified, there is general agreement that hexavalent species are responsible for these diseases, and that the trivalent and metallic species are not. For cancers other than those of the lungs and sinonasal cavity, no consistent pattern of cancer risk has been demonstrated in workers exposed to chromium compounds.

Chromium Accumulation and Toxicity in Aquatic Vascular Plants

I. Abstract Chromium poisoning among leather tanners has long been known. The workers have been found to suffer from ulcers, allergic dermatitis, lung cancer, and liver necrosis due to prolonged contact with chromium salts. One of the highly catastrophic incidences of lung cancer as a result of inhaling dust containing Cr (VI) was reported in 1960 from the Kiryama factory of the Nippon-Denko concern on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Pollution of water resources, both surface and underground, by indiscriminate discharge of spent wastes of chromium-based industries has become a serious global concern, for it has created an acute scarcity of safe drinking water in many countries. In August 1975 it was observed that underground drinking water in Tokyo near the chromium (VI))–containing spoil heaps contained more than 2000 times the permissible limit of chromium. In Ludhiana and Chennai, India, chromium levels in underground water have been recorded at more than 12 mg/L and 550–1500 ppm/L, respectively.

Wastewater control and management in a leather tanning district

Initial assessment of industrial structure and wastewater characteristics is important for successful environmental management in an industrial district. This is particularly important for the cases where highly polluting industries such leather tanners are of concern. In this study, Biga Leather Tanners District was evaluated. The process characteristics, wastewater amounts, wastewater quality and their variations with time were defined. The district housed 46 tanning plants, processing mainly sheepskins with a total capacity of 66.5 tons skin per day. Process profile was prepared and checked with experimental data. Chemical treatability experiments were conducted to assess the pretreatment alternatives. Chemical precipitation preceded by catalytic air oxidation of sulfide was found to be an optimum pretreatment system providing COD and TKN removals up to 80% together with complete chromium removal, Results of the study were evaluated and discussed.

Wastewater control and management in a leather tanning district

Initial assessment of industrial structure and wastewater characteristics is important for successful environmental management in an industrial district. This is particularly important for the cases where highly polluting industries such leather tanners are of concern. In this study, Biga Leather Tanners District was evaluated. The process characteristics, wastewater amounts, wastewater quality and their variations with time were defined. The district housed 46 tanning plants, processing mainly sheepskins with a total capacity of 66.5 tons skin per day. Process profile was prepared and checked with experimental data. Chemical treatability experiments were conducted to assess the pretreatment alternatives. Chemical precipitation preceded by catalytic air oxidation of sulfide was found to be an optimum pretreatment system providing COD and TKN removals up to 80% together with complete chromium removal, Results of the study were evaluated and discussed.

Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish leather tanners.

The aim was to study the incidence of cancer among Swedish leather tanners. A cohort of 2026 subjects who had been employed for at least one year between 1900 and 1989 in three Swedish leather tanneries, was established. The cancer incidence and mortality patterns were assessed for the periods 1958-89 and 1952-89 respectively, and cause-specific standardised incidence and mortality ratios (SIRs and SMRs) were calculated. A significantly increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas (SIR 4.27, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.39-9.97) was found, based on five cases. Excesses, (not statistically significant) was also found for multiple myelomas (SIR 2.54, 95% CI 0.93-5.53), and sinonasal cancer (SIR 3.77, 95% CI 0.46-13.6). The increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas adds support to previous findings of an excess mortality in this diagnosis among leather tanners. A plausible cause is exposure to chlorophenols, which had occurred in all three plants. The excess of multiple myelomas may also be associated with exposure to chlorophenol. The association between incidence of cancer and specific chemical exposure will be elucidated in a cohort-based case-referent study.

Cancer mortality among leather tanners.

Workers were studied at a tannery that operated from 1873 to 1960, once one of the biggest in Scandinavia. The results show a slight numerical increase of deaths from cancer of the stomach and a significant, threefold excess mortality from cancer of the pancreas. Even in view of critical questions about validity it seems likely that this excess might be related to exposure to chemicals in tannery work.

Exposure assessment to preformed environmental N-nitroso compounds from the point of view of our own studies.

The largest human exposure to N-nitrosamines is in the industrial section. Leather tanners are exposed to N-nitrosodimethylamine at levels up to 47 microgram/m3, corresponding to 440 microgram/person/day. Workers in the curing area of tire factories are exposed to N-nitrosomorpholine at levels up to 27 microgram/m3, corresponding to a intake of 250 microgram/person/day. These industrial exposures are considerably greater than exposure via foodstuffs, beer, cosmetics, cutting fluids and herbicides.