International Journal of Textile

and Fashion Technology (IJTFT)

ISSN(P): 2250-2378; ISSN(E): 2319-4510
Vol. 6, Issue 5, Oct 2016, 19-22
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd

TEXTILE WET PROCESSING: ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS

BHUPINDER KAUR & CHANCHAL
Department of Fabric and Apparel Science, Institute of Home Economics, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
ABSTRACT
The textile industry causes severe pollution and health problems. Therefore, it is important to adopt
eco-friendly chemicals and process technology that is energy efficient, which produces less waste, requires fewer
resources such as chemicals and water and lastly they should be easy to operate.
KEYWORDS: Enviroment, Health, Textile, Pollution, Preventation, Waste, Wet Processing

Received: Sep 17, 2016; Accepted: Oct 07, 2016; Published: Oct 15, 2016; Paper Id.: IJTFTOCT20164

INTRODUCTION
The textile industry is the single largest industry in the country. It fully meets the growing needs of the
important role in the national economy, but it is responsible for disastrous environmental and health impacts as
well.
Environmental Impacts
The textile wet processing effluents when discharged into the receiving body of water without adequate
treatment can cause irreversible changes. The effluent discharged will increase the temperature of the receiving

Original Article

increasing population for one of the basic necessities of life i.e. clothing [5]. The Indian textile industry plays an

body, thereby, reducing the solubility of oxygen in the water. High alkalinity of the effluent leads to the increase in
pH of the receiving stream. If the pH value exceeds 9 or falls below 5, it will have adverse effect on aquatic biota
[8]. Streams containing 25 PPM sodium hydroxide was reported deadly for fish. The soluble colours and dyes
present in the wastewater persisted in the stream and interfered with penetration of sunlight for photosynthesis.
The colloidal matter in the wastewater increased the turbidity. The oily material in the effluent produced an
unsightly appearance. Oily scum on the surface of the water interfered with the mechanism of oxygen transfer at
the air-water interface [1], [8]. The textile process effluents were let out in to the public sewer systems, it caused a
number of effects both on the sewer pipes as well as on the sewerage treatment plants. The high levels of pH,
alkalinity and TDS had a tendency to incrust the sewer pipes. The sulphur dyes and other sulphur compounds
present in the waste may gradually lead to corrosion. High electrolyte concentrations in the effluents, made a
destructive attack on concrete pipes. If sodium sulphate is used as an electrolyte, then due to the formation of
alumino-sulphato complexes, which swell and cracks concretes with considerable alumina content. Caustic
alkalies from kiers or free chlorine from bleaching sections, the harmful pollutants, if present in appreciable
amount, not only make the receiving water unfit for use, but will also destroy the vegetation and crops where such
water is discharged [2],[6].

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Bhupinder Kaur & Chanchal

Health Impacts
The chemicals used in the textile industry are responsible for severe health problems. In the interaction between
man and chemicals, the routes of entry of chemicals into human system can play an important role. The common routes of
entry encountered in the textile industry are by absorption through skin or inhalation or ingestion. Absorption means the
entry of chemicals into the blood stream. The skin route for absorption is important because certain chemicals, like Aniline
can produce serious health problems. By inhalation route, the absorption occurs through lungs. Use of hypochlorite
solution for bleaching, which releases chlorine and workers may be exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine, a skin and eye
irritant and a dangerous pulmonary tissue irritant causing delayed lung oedema. Many dyestuffs are skin irritants that cause
dermatitis. [7], [9].
The main alkalis used in the textile industry include ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium and
potassium hydroxide and carbonates, peroxides and silicates, and tri-sodium phosphate. The alkalis, whether in solid form
or in concentrated liquid solution, are more destructive to tissue than most acids. The combined effects of exposure to
ammonia and sulphuric acid on the respiratory tract among 80 workers had been reported. In this sample, 24% were
observed to have

mild and 28% had moderate

lung function impairment [4]. Textiles/garments

have

carcinogenic/dermatological and allergic effects on the wearer. The concern is because textiles are in contact with human
skin for 24 hours of the day and children are more sensitive and likely to even chew them [10].
In the view of above, it can be ascertained that textile processing does have the capacity to pollute the
environment and causes harmful impacts to the human life. Thus, there is a need to use the process technologies that are
energy efficient, which produces less waste, require fewer resources such as chemicals, water and lastly they should be
easy to handle.
Pollution Prevention through Waste Minimization
Waste minimization basically means to avoid the formation of waste at source and where possible, to reuse and
recycle the wastes that are generated. Waste minimization is possible by:

Increase in process efficiency

Reducing the amount of raw material needed for production

Using clean technology [3]

CONCLUSIONS
As highlighted above, textile wet processing industry has environment and health impacts. It is important for the
industry to adopt pollution prevention techniques which are easy to adopt, requires fewer resources and increase the
process efficiency.
REFERENCES
1.

Asolekar, S. and Abhyankar, A. 2000, Effluent treatment and pollution preventation strategies for Textile Industry,
NCUTE- Programme on Environmental Problems in Chemical Processing of Textiles, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, p
39-54.

2.

Bhatt, S.R., Subrahmanyam, K. and Swami, K. R., 1981, Pollution control in Textile and Allied Industries.

Impact Factor (JCC): 3.8329

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 6.1

Textile Wet Processing: Environmental and Health Impacts

21

3.

Lal, R. M., 1998, Environmental protection through waste management, Colourage, p 29 34.

4.

Occupational safety and health in textile industry, International Labour Organisation (ILO).

5.

Saxena, A.K., Pervez, M.J., and Sinha, D. 1998, Technical manual Series-III from Waste To Profits to guidelines for Waste
Minisation, National Productivity Council, New Delhi.

6.

Sekar, N., 2001, Environmental friendly reactive dyeing conceptual development, Colourage, p 37-38.

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occupational health and safety.

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Upadhye, V. B., Laga, S. K. and Kane, C.D., 1999, Controlling Pollution, The Indian Textile Journal, p 64-67.

9.

Verma, M.S. 1999, Indian Textile Industry- Enviromental and Occupational Health issues, Standards India, Volume 13 Bureau
of Indian Standards, Govt of India, Vol 13, No.2, p 4-9.

10. Viswanath, C.S., 2001, Problematic dyes which release harmful amines- The practicality of application of Natural dyes,
NCUTE programme on Ecofriendly Textile wet processing, p 1-14.

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