IMPACT OF GLASS INDUSTRY EFFLUENT DISPOSAL ON SOIL CHARACTERISTICS IN HARIDWAR REGION, INDIA

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, PO43-, SO42-, 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.