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Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of a Tanning Industry

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Ecotoxicological Diagnosis in the Tanning Industry

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Abstract

The complex nature of the pollutants (posing risks and hazards within the working tannery environment) demonstrated in this study and explained in the previous chapters, led to the development of an ecological risk assessment (ERA) associated with the tanning industry. This approach acts both as a diagnostic and remediative tool pertinent to the tanning industry. This chapter attempted to capture the impact of the tanning industry in a much more holistic manner and encompassing experiences learnt in the earlier chapters. This resulted to the development of an ecological risk assessment (ERA) to provide possible mitigating factors geared towards the tanning industry. Ecological risk assessment utilised various techniques to evaluate the probability that adverse ecological effects will occur as a result of exposure to one or more stressors. Ecological risk assessment determined and documented actual or potential effects and impacts of contaminants on ecological receptors and habitats as a basis for evaluating remedial alternatives. Therefore the main aim of this chapter was to integrate principal issues such as identifying stressors/hazards, application of biological (Bioassays) and chemical assays (to determine heavy metals, COD, BOD, and Total Phenols).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leather Development Council, 14480-00800, Nairobi, Kenya

    Mwinyikione Mwinyihija PhD, FCIWEM, HSC, CSci., CBiol., CEnv.

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  1. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija PhD, FCIWEM, HSC, CSci., CBiol., CEnv.
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Correspondence to Mwinyikione Mwinyihija PhD, FCIWEM, HSC, CSci., CBiol., CEnv. .

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Mwinyihija, M. (2010). Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of a Tanning Industry. In: Ecotoxicological Diagnosis in the Tanning Industry. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6266-9_5

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