Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study is to determine whether the partial relocation of Hazaribagh tanneries has any effect on the area’s soil quality with respect to chromium and to determine a possible link between human exposure/diseases to chromium, with the focus being placed on children and vulnerable population.
Methodology: Geochemical sampling and public health research related to fieldwork (Focus Group Discussions, two In-Depth Interview, and Key Informant Interview).
Main Findings: The study indicates that there is a significant presence of chromium in the area’s soil two years following the partial relocation of Hazaribagh tanneries. Flu-like symptoms, generalized skin rash, and fertility issues are common in the vulnerable population. The residents are ignorant, belong to the marginalized section of the society, and do not fully comprehend of the impact of environmental exposure to chromium.
Applications of this study: The geochemical data may be used to identify in situ treatment technologies for remediation of the area’s soil. The public health data will allow health policymakers to generate ideas and implement solutions to one of the greatest health challenges faced by the impacted population.
Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is multidisciplinary by nature and employs science and technology to systematically develop an insight into the environmental contamination resulting from the release of untreated effluent and solid waste containing chromium.
Keywords
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References
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- Al-Muti, S.A. (2017). Introducing greening strategies in emerging economies: environmental compliance of Bangladesh leather industry and its influence on broader policy environment. The Asia Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Anawar, H., Safiullah, S., Yoshioka, T. (2000). Environmental Exposure Assessment of Chromium and Other Tannery Pollutants at Hazaribagh Area, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Health Risk. Journal of Environmental Chemistry. 10, 549-556. https://doi.org/10.5985/jec.10.549 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5985/jec.10.549
- Apte, A., Tare, V., Bose, P. (2006). Extent of oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) under various conditions pertaining to natural environment. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 128, 2–3, 164-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.057
- Avudainayagam, S., Megharaj, M., Owens, et al. (2002). Chemistry of Chromium in Soils with Emphasis on Tannery Waste Sites. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21728-2_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21728-2_3
- Brammer, H., (1996). The geography of the soil of Bangladesh. University Press Limited, Dhaka.
- Brinkmann, S., Kvale, S. (2015). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. 3rd Edition. Los Angeles, Sage.
- Fendorf, S. (1995). Surface reactions of chromium in soils and waters. Geoderma. 67:55–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(94)00062-F DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(94)00062-F
- Green, J., Thorogood, N. (2018). Qualitative methods for health research. 4th Edition. Los Angeles, SAGE.
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- Hasan, M.M., Hosain, S., Poddar, P., et al. (2019). Heavy metal toxicity from the leather industry in Bangladesh: a case study of human exposure in Dhaka industrial area. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191, 530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7650-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7650-6
- Human Rights Watch (HRW). (2012). Toxic Tanneries - The Health Repercussions of Bangladesh’s Hazaribagh Leather. https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/10/08/toxic-tanneries/health-repercussions-bangladeshs-hazaribagh-leather
- Islam, M., Shahin, H., Banik, S., et al. (2013). Elasto-plastic constitutive model parameters and their application to bearing capacity estimation for Dhaka sub-soil. Journal of Civil Engineering, 42 (2), 171-188.
- Jong-Bae, C., Tong-Min, S. (2001). Chromium oxidation potential and related soil characteristics in arable upland soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 32:11-12, 1719-1733. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120000245 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120000245
- Kabir, M., Fakhruddin, A., Chowdhury, M., et al. (2017). Characterization of tannery effluents of Hazaribagh area, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Pollution, 3, 3, 395-406.
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- Karim, S., Akther, K.M., Khatun, M., et al. (2019). Geomorphology and geology of the Dhaka City Corporation area - an approach of remote sensing and GIS technique. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science. 6(2), 7-16.
- Khan, N.M.E.A. (2017). SCP in Bangladesh: The brown hope of Hazaribagh and the golden fibre of Bangladesh. Sustainable Asia, the European Union. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814730914_0005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814730914_0005
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- Losi M.E., Amrhein C., Frankenberger W.T. (1994) Environmental biochemistry of chromium. In: Ware G.W. (eds). Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (Continuation of Residue Reviews). 136. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2656-7_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2656-7_3
- McCartor, A., Becker, D. (2010). Blacksmith Institute's World's Worst Pollution Problems Report 2010.
- Mondol, M., Asia, A., Chamon, A., et al. (2017). Contamination of soil and plant by the Hazaribagh Tannery Industries. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Science. 43(2), 207-222. ttps://doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v43i2.46518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v43i2.46518
- Muralidhar, V., Ahasan, M.F., Khan, A.M., et al. (2017). Basic occupational health services (BOHS) in community primary care: the MSF (Dhaka) model. BMJ Case Reports. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-218293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-218293
- Nyumba, T.O., Wilson, K., Derrick, C.J., et al. (2018). The use of focus group discussion methodology: Insights from two decades of application in conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9. 20-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12860 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12860
- Paul, H.L., Antunes, A.P.M., Covington, A.D., et al. (2013). Bangladeshi leather industry: an overview of recent sustainable developments. Journal of the Society of Leather Technologies and Chemists. 97(1): 25-32.
- Richard, F., Bourg, A., (1991). Aqueous geochemistry of chromium: A review. Water Res. 25, 7, 807–816. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(91)90160-R DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(91)90160-R
- Saha, G. (2001). Assessment of groundwater contamination in Dhaka city from tannery waste. MSc Thesis. Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka.
- Shams, K.M., Tichy, G., Sager, M. et al. (2009). Soil contamination from tannery wastes with emphasis on the fate and distribution of tri- and hexavalent chromium. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 199, 123–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9865-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9865-y
- Stępniewska, Z., Wolińska, A., Pióro, W. (2007). Chromium migration in the vicinity of a tannery waste lagoon. Polish Journal of Soil Science. 40, 139-145.
- Stępniewska, Z., Bucior, K., Bennicelli, R.P. (2004). The effects of MnO2 on sorption and oxidation of Cr (III) by soils. Geoderma. 122, 291-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.01.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.01.015
- Tumolo, M., Ancona, V., Paola, D.D., et al. (2020). Chromium pollution in European water, sources, health risk, and remediation strategies: An Overview. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(15):5438. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155438 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155438
- Wang, Y., Su, H., Gu, Y., et al. (2017). Carcinogenicity of chromium and chemoprevention: a brief update. OncoTargets and Therapy. 10: 4065–4079. https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S139262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S139262
- Wuana, R.A., Okieimen, F.E. (2011). Heavy metals in contaminated soils: A review of sources, chemistry, risks and best available strategies for remediation. International Scholarly Research Notices. 2011, 402647. https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/402647 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/402647
- Zahid A, Balke K, Hassan M, et al. 2006. Evaluation of aquifer environment under Hazaribagh leather processing zone of Dhaka city. Environmental Geology. 50, 495–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0225-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0225-1
- Zayed, A.M., Terry, N. (2003) Chromium in the environment: factors affecting biological remediation. Plant and Soil. 249, 139–156. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022504826342 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022504826342
References
Alam, M.S., Han, B., Al-Mizan, et al. (2020) Assessment of soil and groundwater contamination at a former Tannery district in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 42, 1905–1920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00457-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00457-6
Al-Muti, S.A. (2017). Introducing greening strategies in emerging economies: environmental compliance of Bangladesh leather industry and its influence on broader policy environment. The Asia Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Anawar, H., Safiullah, S., Yoshioka, T. (2000). Environmental Exposure Assessment of Chromium and Other Tannery Pollutants at Hazaribagh Area, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Health Risk. Journal of Environmental Chemistry. 10, 549-556. https://doi.org/10.5985/jec.10.549 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5985/jec.10.549
Apte, A., Tare, V., Bose, P. (2006). Extent of oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) under various conditions pertaining to natural environment. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 128, 2–3, 164-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.057
Avudainayagam, S., Megharaj, M., Owens, et al. (2002). Chemistry of Chromium in Soils with Emphasis on Tannery Waste Sites. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21728-2_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21728-2_3
Brammer, H., (1996). The geography of the soil of Bangladesh. University Press Limited, Dhaka.
Brinkmann, S., Kvale, S. (2015). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. 3rd Edition. Los Angeles, Sage.
Fendorf, S. (1995). Surface reactions of chromium in soils and waters. Geoderma. 67:55–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(94)00062-F DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(94)00062-F
Green, J., Thorogood, N. (2018). Qualitative methods for health research. 4th Edition. Los Angeles, SAGE.
Haque, S.E. (2018). An Overview of Groundwater in Bangladesh, in: Mukherjee, A. (Ed.), Groundwater of South Asia. Springer Publishing Company, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3889-1_13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3889-1_13
Haque, S., Ji, J., Johannesson, K.H. (2008). Evaluating mobilization and transport of arsenic in sediments and groundwaters of Aquia aquifer, Maryland, USA. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 99, 1–4, 68-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.03.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.03.003
Hasan, M.M., Hosain, S., Poddar, P., et al. (2019). Heavy metal toxicity from the leather industry in Bangladesh: a case study of human exposure in Dhaka industrial area. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191, 530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7650-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7650-6
Human Rights Watch (HRW). (2012). Toxic Tanneries - The Health Repercussions of Bangladesh’s Hazaribagh Leather. https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/10/08/toxic-tanneries/health-repercussions-bangladeshs-hazaribagh-leather
Islam, M., Shahin, H., Banik, S., et al. (2013). Elasto-plastic constitutive model parameters and their application to bearing capacity estimation for Dhaka sub-soil. Journal of Civil Engineering, 42 (2), 171-188.
Jong-Bae, C., Tong-Min, S. (2001). Chromium oxidation potential and related soil characteristics in arable upland soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 32:11-12, 1719-1733. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120000245 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120000245
Kabir, M., Fakhruddin, A., Chowdhury, M., et al. (2017). Characterization of tannery effluents of Hazaribagh area, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Pollution, 3, 3, 395-406.
Karim, M.R., Islam, M.R., Gasconm J.A., et al. (2013). Assessment of an urban contaminated site from tannery industries in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Journal of Hazardous, Toxic & Radioactive Waste, 17. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000139 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000139
Karim, S., Akther, K.M., Khatun, M., et al. (2019). Geomorphology and geology of the Dhaka City Corporation area - an approach of remote sensing and GIS technique. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science. 6(2), 7-16.
Khan, N.M.E.A. (2017). SCP in Bangladesh: The brown hope of Hazaribagh and the golden fibre of Bangladesh. Sustainable Asia, the European Union. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814730914_0005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814730914_0005
Kimbrough, D.E., Cohen, Y., Winer, A.M., et al. (1999). A critical assessment of chromium in the environment. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 29, 1, 1–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389991259164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389991259164
Losi M.E., Amrhein C., Frankenberger W.T. (1994) Environmental biochemistry of chromium. In: Ware G.W. (eds). Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (Continuation of Residue Reviews). 136. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2656-7_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2656-7_3
McCartor, A., Becker, D. (2010). Blacksmith Institute's World's Worst Pollution Problems Report 2010.
Mondol, M., Asia, A., Chamon, A., et al. (2017). Contamination of soil and plant by the Hazaribagh Tannery Industries. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Science. 43(2), 207-222. ttps://doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v43i2.46518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v43i2.46518
Muralidhar, V., Ahasan, M.F., Khan, A.M., et al. (2017). Basic occupational health services (BOHS) in community primary care: the MSF (Dhaka) model. BMJ Case Reports. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-218293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-218293
Nyumba, T.O., Wilson, K., Derrick, C.J., et al. (2018). The use of focus group discussion methodology: Insights from two decades of application in conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9. 20-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12860 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12860
Paul, H.L., Antunes, A.P.M., Covington, A.D., et al. (2013). Bangladeshi leather industry: an overview of recent sustainable developments. Journal of the Society of Leather Technologies and Chemists. 97(1): 25-32.
Richard, F., Bourg, A., (1991). Aqueous geochemistry of chromium: A review. Water Res. 25, 7, 807–816. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(91)90160-R DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(91)90160-R
Saha, G. (2001). Assessment of groundwater contamination in Dhaka city from tannery waste. MSc Thesis. Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka.
Shams, K.M., Tichy, G., Sager, M. et al. (2009). Soil contamination from tannery wastes with emphasis on the fate and distribution of tri- and hexavalent chromium. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 199, 123–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9865-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9865-y
Stępniewska, Z., Wolińska, A., Pióro, W. (2007). Chromium migration in the vicinity of a tannery waste lagoon. Polish Journal of Soil Science. 40, 139-145.
Stępniewska, Z., Bucior, K., Bennicelli, R.P. (2004). The effects of MnO2 on sorption and oxidation of Cr (III) by soils. Geoderma. 122, 291-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.01.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.01.015
Tumolo, M., Ancona, V., Paola, D.D., et al. (2020). Chromium pollution in European water, sources, health risk, and remediation strategies: An Overview. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(15):5438. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155438 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155438
Wang, Y., Su, H., Gu, Y., et al. (2017). Carcinogenicity of chromium and chemoprevention: a brief update. OncoTargets and Therapy. 10: 4065–4079. https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S139262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S139262
Wuana, R.A., Okieimen, F.E. (2011). Heavy metals in contaminated soils: A review of sources, chemistry, risks and best available strategies for remediation. International Scholarly Research Notices. 2011, 402647. https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/402647 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/402647
Zahid A, Balke K, Hassan M, et al. 2006. Evaluation of aquifer environment under Hazaribagh leather processing zone of Dhaka city. Environmental Geology. 50, 495–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0225-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0225-1
Zayed, A.M., Terry, N. (2003) Chromium in the environment: factors affecting biological remediation. Plant and Soil. 249, 139–156. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022504826342 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022504826342