1.

0 Introduction

1.1 Origin of the Report:

Bangladesh has enormous environmental problems in industrialization sector which need
to be considered seriously. We were orally authorized to prepare a Term Paper on the
theme- ‘Industrial Hazards and their effects on environment in Bangladesh’ for the
fulfillment of the course ‘Environmental Issues in Business (BUS 303)’- by our
honorable course teacher Mr. Shahriar Kabir. Therefore we have worked on and prepared
this Term Paper on “Environmental Pollutions in Leather Industries of Bangladesh” with
our little but complete effort. The report will follow the formalities, rules and regulations
of a formal report presentation. The topic decided for the report is “Business and Politics
in Bangladesh” and is to be submitted on 17th December, 2009.

1.2. Objective of the Report:

a) Broader objective:
The broader objective of this project report is to determine the current pollution state
caused by these leather industries in our environment and the vital reasons behind
such pollution
.
b) Specific objectives:
A few specific objectives of this project are given below:
 To brief an overview of the working process of the leather industries in
Bangladesh
 To give an idea about the harmful effects occurring by the toxic wastes
discharged by the tanneries
 To discuss ideas about solving such a major adversity of our country

1.3 Scope:

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This report is intended to provide background information on Tannery Industries in
Bangladesh and the beginning of this industry. It also includes an overview of the
condition, level of pollution and some environmental issues in this field of industry. The
scope of the study is the processing unit of different types of leather in the Hazaribagh
industrial area in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Two samples of the tannery industries had
been chosen randomly for the purpose of the report.

1.4. Methodology:
1.4.1. Data Collection Method:
In this report, most of the data were collected from primary sources. But, some secondary
sources were used to find out company profile and to support the writings of the Term
Paper.
At the very beginning of ours task, we studied about the potential information about the
tanneries stated at the greater parts of Dhaka. Then we found out our research sector and
also determined our survey areas. After that, we visited few tanneries at Hazaribagh,
which was the biggest shot for making this report. We observed the two specific
tanneries, their entire work process, and their waste disposal procedure as per instruction
and finally prepared the data for the Term Paper.

a) Source of Data:

 Primary Data regarding the report has been collected through visiting the reputed
leather industries stated in Hazaribagh industrial area in person and by
interviewing the local workers and residents.
 Secondary Data has been collected from the website.

b) Sampling Plan:

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i) Sample Unit and size: Our sampling unit is the leather industries processing both the
local and export quality leather. For that we have visited two tanneries: Yousuf Leather
Corporation Ltd. which is a producer of export quality leathers and a local leather factory,
Ibrahim Leathers.
ii) Sample area: The sampling area is the Hazaribagh industrial area of Dhaka city.

c) Data Collection Instruments:

Observation and personal interview was the only data collection instrument as these
methods were more acceptable, accurate and flexible and less time consuming.

1.5. Limitations of the Report:

The proposed report is expected to be plagued with several limitations. These are as
follows:
 Time constraints on the part of the owners and the managers in providing us with
information.
 Also time constraint on our part, because in this semester we all are in constant
pressure. We tried our best to collect various information
 The report will not cover all information about the leather industry. It will only
cover till the processing of raw leather
 We have not covered all information about the leather industry of the country but
only two tanneries in the Hazaribagh industrial area
 Limitation due to improper accessibility
 Limitations due to lack of research expertise.
 Some information may be overlooked

Despite of all these limitations, we have given our best efforts. We also tried to make the
report as informative and as comprehensive as possible.

2.0. An Overview of Leather Industry

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2.1. Industry Background:
The leather industry sector is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner of Bangladesh
contributing about six per cent of the total export earnings. Bangladesh earns more than
8.0 billion taka - 11 per cent of all the export earnings – by exporting leather and

leather goods. The leather industries are mostly situated in the densely populated
residential area surrounded by slums, where people are living ignorantly in one of the
worst polluted areas in the world. The condition to describe the living conditions of the
slums is beyond capability.

Figure: Residuals near Hazaribagh main drain

Bangladesh is capable of producing 180 million square feet of leather per year. But these
industries produce 150 metric tons of solid waste every day contaminating the
environment and water of the metropolis. 59 per cent of the total wastage comes from
processing of hides and skin, and accumulates in the swamp-sludge, experts in the
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environment sector said. They said, "Part of the solid waste is collected by the Dhaka
City Corporation (DCC) and taken to landfill sites." A recent research conducted by
Professor S M Imamul Huq, Chairperson of Soil, Water and Environment Department of
Dhaka University revealed that out of 214 tanneries in the country, except for two BATA
and Dhaka Leather Complex- none of the tanneries has a treatment plant as required by
the law. Most of the waste effluents are subjected to natural decomposition in the
environment, causing serious pollution problems affecting soil, water, air and human life.

Figure: Dumped leather wastes polluting environment

The leather export is growing and at the same time conditions of the poor are
deteriorating. The finding said that the existing industries in most cases do not have any
effluent treatment plants for neutralizing the toxicity and harmful effects of their
pollutants. As per the requirement of this course, we have visited two tanneries of
Hazaribagh, which are Yousuf Leather Corporation Ltd. and Ibrahim Leathers. First one
is one of the largest export quality leather producing tannery and the second one produces
comparatively lower quality leather from local raw materials. We have also tried to visit
Bay Tanneries Ltd. which is another export quality leather producing tannery but could
not be successful due to some allowance reasons.

2.2. Types of Tanning:

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Tanning is the process of making leather which does not easily decompose the raw
materials. Often this uses tannin, an acidic chemical compound. The whole tanning
process is categorized into two types according to the tanning process followed in our
country:
 Vegetable tannage and
 Chrome tannage

Vegetable-tanned leather: tanned using tannin and other ingredients found in vegetable
matter, tree bark, and other such sources. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact
shade depending on the mix of chemicals and the color of the skin. It is the only form of
leather suitable for use in leather carving or stamping. Vegetable-tanned leather is not
stable in water; it tends to discolor, and if left to soak and then dry it will shrink and
become less supple and harder. In hot water, it will shrink drastically and partly
gelatinize, becoming rigid and eventually brittle. Boiled leather is an example of this
where the leather has been hardened by being immersed in hot water, or in boiled wax or
similar substances.

Chrome-tanned leather: invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other
salts of chromium. It is more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather, and does
not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned. It is also known as
wet-blue for its color derived from the chromium. More esoteric colors are possible using
chrome tanning.

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 Figure: Chemicals used in chrome-tanning process
The vegetable tannage process is much environment friendly but the leather produced
from such process does not ensure the durability of the leather. So most tanneries are
using the chrome technology nowadays which emits harming toxic gas and liquid waste
and thus environment is being polluted. Again, the main element that ensures the
durability of export quality leather, Basic Chrome Sulphet (BCS) or Chromasol B, is one
of the main components of causing Cancer. So no doubt that this is a threat to the whole
human race who are related to this industry.

2.3. The Whole Tanning Process:

Raw animal skins go through several steps during the tanning process. Depending on the
type of hide used and the desired end-product, the steps taken during tanning can vary
greatly. Tanneries use to collect hides from the ‘haat’, situated around the country. After
collecting, preparing hides begins by curing them with salt. Curing is employed to
prevent putrefaction of the protein substance (collagen) from bacterial infection during
the time lag that might occur from procuring the hide to when it is processed. Curing
removes excess water from the hides and skins using a difference in osmotic pressure.

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 Figure: Curing process of animal skin with salt and then pressing in
packs

The moisture content of hides and skins get greatly reduced. In wet-salting, the hides are
heavily salted, then pressed into packs for about 30 days. In brine-curing the hides are
agitated in a salt water bath for about 16 hours. Generally speaking, methods employed
for curing make the chance of bacterial growth greatly unfavorable. Curing can also be
done by preserving the hides and skins at a very low temperature.

Figure: Soaking of leather in water tank

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In a process known as soaking, the hides are then soaked in clean water to remove the salt
and increase the moisture so that the hide or skin can be further treated. After soaking, the
soaked hides and skins are taken for the next operation where these are treated with milk
of lime with or without the addition of "sharpening agents" like sodium sulfide, cyanides,
amines etc. The weakening of hair is dependent on the breakdown of the disulfide link of
the amino acid called Cystine, which is the characteristic of the keratin class of protein
which gives strength to hair and wools. The hydrogen atoms supplied by the sharpening
agent reduce the Cystine molecular link to Cysteine, and the covalent disulfide bond links
are ruptured. This weakens the keratin. To some extent, the weakening produced by
sharpening also contributes to "unhairing," as the hairs break down.

The majority of hair is then removed using a machine, with remaining hair being
removed by hand using a dull knife, a process known as scudding. Depending on the end
use of the leather, hides may be treated with enzymes to soften them in a process called
"bating." But before bating, the pH of the collagen is brought down to a lower level so
that enzymes may act on it. This process is known as "de-liming."

Once bating is complete, the hides and skins are treated with a mixture of common salt
and Sulphuric Acid, in case a mineral tanning is to be done. This is done to bring down
the pH of collagen to a very low level so as to facilitate the penetration of mineral tanning
agent into the substance. This process is known as "pickling." The common salt (sodium
chloride) penetrates the hide twice as fast as the acid and checks the ill effect of sudden
drop of pH.

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 Figure: Various steps in the processing of leather

Tanning can be performed with either vegetable or mineral methods that we have
mentioned before. Before tanning, the skins are unhaired, degreased, desalted and soaked
in water over a period of 6 hours to 2 days. To prevent damage of the skin by bacterial
growth during the soaking period, biocides, such as pentachlorophenol, are used.

Vegetable tanning uses tannin. The tannin is a class of polyphenol astringent chemical
that occurs naturally in the bark and leaves of many plants. Tannins bind to the collagen
proteins in the hide and coat them causing them to become less water-soluble, and more
resistant to bacterial attack. The process also causes the hide to become more flexible.
The primary barks used in modern times are chestnut, oak, tanoak, hemlock, quebracho,
mangrove, wattle and myrobalan. Hides are stretched on frames and immersed for several
weeks in vats of increasing concentrations of tannin. Vegetable tanned hide is flexible
and is used for luggage and furniture.

Mineral tanning usually uses chromium in the form of Basic Chromium Sulfate (BCS) or
Chromasol B. It is employed after picking. Once the desired level of penetration of
chrome into the substance is achieved, the pH of the material is raised again to facilitate
the process. This is known as "basification". In the raw state chrome tanned skins are blue
and therefore referred to as "wet blue." Chrome tanning is faster than vegetable tanning
and produces stretchable and long-lasting leather which is excellent for use in handbags
and garments. But for the harmful affects of the Chrome, some tanneries are now using
10
both vegetable and chrome tanning altogether to prevent the toxication- that we came to
know from few of the tannery owners.

Figure: Chrome-tanned leather

Figure: Drying and finishing of leather

Depending on the desired product, the hides then go through a dyeing process, which also
involves adding moisture back into the skin. Hides which have been vegetable tanned are
bleached and them soaked with oils, soaps, greases and waxes to make them more
pliable. Rolling leather means running the skins through a machine that works to firm the
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leather to make it stronger. After the rolling process has finished, leathers are stretched,
where they dry out in a heat controlled room. Through such dyeing and finishing, the raw
leather becomes suitable for exporting. This was the finishing for exporting processed
leather to foreign countries.

Figure: Finished leather ready for exporting

3.0. Analysis and Findings

3.1. Pollution Occurring from Leather Industries:

220 tanneries located in Bangladesh, mostly n Dhaka, are releasing a large quantity of
toxic waste at the time of processing of leather, causing a severe environmental pollution.
The pollution is seriously affecting the livelihood of some 0.1 million people in and
around the Hazaribagh area of the capital city. Some 194 of the tanneries are now housed
in the city's Hazaribagh area, which is on the brink of an environmental disaster. The
quality of liquid waste discharged from these tanneries varies from 10 to 15 gallons per
square feet of hides and skins processed. This comprising waste water, organic particular
and toxic chemicals is discharged in open drains and ultimately finds its way onto land
surfaces and in natural waters in the vicinity. As a result, water, air, soil, shelter and food
are getting continuously polluted.
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 Figure: Regular drainage scenario nearby the tanneries

However, it is heartening to note that only a fifth of the raw stock can in practice be
converted into reliable leather, the remains form waste or by-product. Some of the raw
materials, such as hair, soluble proteins and fat have to be removed during processing to
prepare the collagen fiber structure of the hide for tanning; some parts of the leather also
have to be trimmed or shaved during the production process. Residual chemicals from the
leather manufacturing process, such as sulphide used for unhairing and chromium
employed for the tanning process, can contribute to the waste. Micro-pollutants, such as
insecticides from raw stock, are also of growing concern. Chemical analysis suggests that
tannery wastes are characterized by strong colors, high biochemical oxygen demand, high
pH and high dissolved salts. Disposal of these wastes into water course or onto land, with
or without prior sedimentation, creates a great problem in the environment in the vicinity.

The images shown below give us some solid evidence about the chemical toxic disposed
by the tanneries. Here, two colors of liquid wastes can be seen of which, one is sodium
chloride and other one is the Basic Chrome Sulphet (Chromasol B) which emits
dangerous toxic gaseous wastes and strong bad-odor and pollution altogether.

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 Figure: Toxic liquid wastes disposed by the tanneries

One thing that was not much known to us- was the difference between the local and the
export quality leather processing tanneries. By visiting two of the tanneries, we could
visualize the difference by our own. The export quality leather producer, Yousuf Leather
Corporation Ltd. let us know that they use the total raw chemical in their tanning process,
while the local ones like we have visited Ibrahim Leathers, they take away their liquid
waste, which is the chemical saturated water after the soaking process, and use that
Chrome-water in their processing.

Figure: Liquid wastes taken by the local tanneries

So, the export quality leather factories are getting much free from a huge pollution as a
part of their wastes is taken away. But the local workers are not concerned about it this
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much. The local tanneries are still drawn into lack of using resources, technology and the
result is some more pollution. These tanneries take the liquid waste of the bigger
tanneries, put the wet-salted leather into a deep house, pour the water waste into it and
mix them by hand using long bamboos or sticks.

Figure: Tanning, open dumping of wastes and drying of tanned

leather

They don’t even follow any safety measures like wearing gloves or using chemical
resistant uniforms to protect themselves from toxic wastes. Again the tanned leathers are
dried into open air or roof without controlling any heat or air. After their own tanning
process, they dispose the liquid and solid both wastes into the biggest drain of
Hazaribagh which already seems to be blocked much. Even they dump the solid wastes
into open places. Thus they are helping to emit gaseous, solid and liquid wasted to get
spread into the whole environment.

The effluents are produced mostly during tanning and dying. The 149 operating tanneries produce
14910 metric tons of effluents or waste water during the peak time, about 9100 metric tons during
the off-peak period. The effluents contain dissolved lime, hydrogen sulfide, acids, chromium
dyes, oils, organic matter and suspended solids. The waste water is discharged into open drains
and ultimately finds way onto land surface and into natural waters in the vicinity. About 3000
tons of sodium sulfide and nearly 3000 tons of basic chromium sulfates are used each year for
leather processing and tanning. The other chemicals used in the tanning industry are non-ionic

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 Figure: Blocked drainage system in Hazaribagh

wetting agents, bactericides, soda ash, calcium oxide, ammonium sulfate, ammonium
chloride, enzymes, sodium bisulfate, sodiumchlorite, sodium hypochlorite, sodium
chloride, sulfuric acid, formic acid, sodium formate, sodium bicarbonate, vegetable
tannins, syntans, resins, polyurethane, dyes, fatemulsions, pigments, binders, waxes,
lacquers and formaldehyde. The tannery waste with high concentration of dissolved
solids, suspended solids, to prevent physical, chemical and biological pollution of the
receiving body of water, chloride, color, ammonia etc. is being discharged every day in
the receiving water.

Of all the tanneries at Hazaribagh, only a few belong to the Bangladesh Tannery
Association. A large amount of waste produced by these tanneries is discharged in natural
water bodies directly or indirectly through two open drains without any treatment. The
water in the low-lying areas near Hazaribagh, with a direct link to the Buriganga river, is
polluted in such a degree that it has become unsuitable for public uses. In summer when
the rate of decomposition of the waste is higher, serious air pollution is caused in the
whole of Hazaribagh area, including a part of not too far high-class residential area, by
producing intolerable obnoxious odors. The pollutants of tannery wastes are of morganic,
organic and toxic nature and require elaborate treatment before disposal. Out of 214
tanneries, 200 are located near the capital’s river systems – the Turag to north-west, the

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Buriganga to the south-west and the Sitalakhya to the south-east, with Turag flowing into
the Buriganga. The tanneries discharge the effluents and wastes into the river system
causing a large area of acid sludge alongside the flood protection embankment and the
liquid wastes are dumped in the river through a flood control regulator-cum-sluice.

During monsoon months, the flood protection embankments protect Dhaka from heavy
flooding while making it difficult to flush-out waste water, thereby creating
environmental hazard. During the dry season the waste water is flushed out into the river
causing pollution of the river water and affecting the aquatic flora and fauna. The water
quality of the river Buriganga during wet season and dry season are heavily polluted so
that dissolved oxygen in the river water is found to be nil during the dry season and no
fish or other aquatic animals can live in this condition.

Figure: Fish and Chicken food made from solid animal wastes

Bangladesh is capable of producing 180 million square feet of leather per year. But these
leather factories produce 150 metric tons of solid waste every day contaminating the
environment and water of the metropolis. 59 per cent of the total wastage comes from
processing of hides and skin, and accumulates in the swamp-sludge. Part of the solid
waste is collected by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and taken to landfill sites. Some
other solid wastes, like the animal fats are used in making soaps, some removed parts of
the half-processed leather are burnt and mixed with some other components and fed to
the fish and chicken as food. But the dangerous thing is the Chrome mixed with these
17
solid wastes which can be threatening lately for the fishes and chicken. Cow-dung is a
very much affluent fuel for the people living in rural areas. But dumping of the other
solid wastes is seriously affecting the soil and plants, besides vitiating the air,
groundwater and human health.

Rice and wheat were grown in a pot experiment in soils from the tannery area. The wheat
showed delayed maturity and stunting growth while rice showed late flowering and
maturity with dark green color. In another experiment it was observed that application of
tannery effluents to soils of differing textures resulted in reduction of yield of rice, the
research said adding that the adverse effect was more pronounced in light soils than in
heavy soils. The effluent was also found to negatively affect performance, nodulation and
growth of Mung Beans (Dal).

4.0. Recommendations & Conclusion

4.1. Recommendations:

It is not possible for an industry to carry on production without polluting the

environment. Tanneries which produce export quality leather pollute the environment
less then the tanneries processing local leather. The chemicals and the wastage from the
raw hides are being used by the local tanneries to tan leather and in producing glue, foods
of chicken and fish, soap etc. But the industries can take some steps to reduce such
toxicity. They should take some necessary steps to improve the current condition of
leather industries. These may include:

1. A large amount of waste produced by the tanneries of Hajaribagh area is

discharged in natural water bodies directly or indirectly through two open drains
without any treatment. The water in the low-lying areas near this area has a direct
link to the Buriganga River, is polluted in such a degree that it has become

18
 unsuitable for public uses. So the first thing have to do is to construct a complete
waste management plant to reduce the toxic of tannery pollutant before the
disposal to prevent physical, chemical and biological pollution of the receiving
body of water.

2. With the prolonged delay in implementing the Dhaka Tannery Estate Project
(DTEP), the Buriganga river and millions of residents in the western part of the
capital are set to face renewed onslaught of toxic emissions in the coming years.
So, there must be a safer residual arrangement for those residents near Buriganga
and also plans should be taken to purify the water of this river.

3. The key targets which are identified for reducing environmental impact of leather
processing are replacement of chromium, more efficient use of chemicals,
sulphide-free unhairing, possibly with hair recovery, utilization of wastes, and
reuse of water, odor control, solvent free finishing and N-free delimiting.

4. There is no denying that most of the urban-based industries in Bangladesh

pollute environment. Of them, tanneries do the extreme damage. Most of the
tanneries are located in urban areas and their relocation outside the
metropolitan city has not been done. The relocating of the tanneries stated in
Hazaribagh has already been planned but steps should be taken faster for the
sake of the survival of human and animal races.

5. The local drain lines have already been blocked partially by these tannage wastes.
So steps to clean these drains should be taken as early as possible.

As the tannery industries in Bangladesh are well established, they cannot be shifted
without enormous losses. However, efforts are in progress to shift the Hazaribagh
tanneries to a suitable place in Savar. Yet, at every stage of leather processing, clean
technology must be applied. When new industries are set up, clean technology will have
to be followed for protecting the environment.

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4.1. Conclusion:

It has become essential to treat the tannery waste to a certain degree prior to its disposal.
Despite the fact that pollution abatement is a considerable non-productive cost-burden on
leather processing, the industry itself has taken the initiative to introduce clean
technology and improve pollution control. A clean technology can overcome
environmental pollution caused by the tanneries. Physical, chemical and biological
cleaning methods for waste water are used in this sector. Physical treatments include
mainly screening and primary sedimentation, the only treatment which is provided in
most of the tanneries in Bangladesh. Today's tanners are not only hard-pressed by the
high costs of compliance with increasingly restrictive environmental legislation, but are
also faced with a confusion of competing claims for alternative clean technologies. A
practical database is required that would enable the tanner simply and rapidly to shortlist
the most appropriate technologies for these specific needs, with the aim of minimizing
the costs. The Government of Bangladesh has not shown much interest either in
environmental impact created by the industries, whereas government's concern to create
jobs usually meant that when a new factory is proposed - by local, national or
international business or agency - little attention is given to the likely environmental

20
impacts. But experts say that despite the zero-pollution philosophy, advocated by some
developed countries, a developing country like Bangladesh must depend on rapid
industrialization in an endeavor to upgrade the standards of living.

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