Effect of wastewater disposal and extent of industrial pollution in and around Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Kanpur City has become a large industrial complex with nearly 800 industries. This has increased the social and economic status of the city, but these industries are also causing severe environmental pollution. In addition to smoke, dust and pollutant gases, water pollution through the discharge of industrial effluents is causing severe problems. The pollutants include As, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb and Zn, which are considered as toxicants. The presence of various ions, such as Fe2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl- and SO-4, significantly changes the water characteristics, including its ability to stain, its hardness and salinity. The presence of some other oxidizing and reducing agents, such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and sulphate, causes problems such as depletion of oxygen, foul odour and microbial growth. The extent of pollutants in the wastewater discharge from different types of industries and the hazards of these pollutants in wastewater are discussed.