SOIL AND WATER CONTAMINATION BY ARSENIC FROM A TANNERY WASTE

The pollution of soil by arsenic contained in tannery waste is reported. Over 81 years of operation, a variety of arsenical compounds including sodium arsenite were used as pesticides at the tannery, the arsenic finding its way to the site in question as liquid waste which was disposed of either by burial or spray issigation. X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) was used to determine the levers of arsenic in the soil. Concentrations recorded were comparable to those in soils polluted by agricultural use of arsenical pesticides or by contamination from mining activities. In contrast to arsenic pollution from other sources however, contamination extends to a considerable depth through the soil profile. Analysis of soil water by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry showed evidence of arsenic movement through this medium although penetration had not extended to the groundwater. Batch leaching of soil samples with distilled water confirmed the potential mobility of arsenic.