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Generation of bioenergy from industrial waste using microbial fuel cell technology 185

8.3.2 Water pollution

The untreated industrial pollutants discharged from the industries and factories have
prevalent toxic concentration. Generally, these wastes are discharged into the water
body and affect the aqua cultures, flora and fauna life cycles, etc. Usage of
unsuitable contaminated water and the discharge of untreated industrial wastewater
into water bodies mainly create water pollution.

8.3.3 Air pollution

The main cause of air pollution is mainly due to the rapid increase in industries/fac-
tories. Emissions from various industries have contaminants such as methane
(CH 4 ), oxides of nitrogen (NO), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). If these gases are highly
present in the atmosphere, they repeatedly create several toxic illnesses and danger-
ous hazards to the environment. Some of the effects of these gases are formation of
acid rains, the presence of smog, heightened incidents of respiratory disorders
among humans, etc.

8.3.4 Soil pollution
Soil pollution occurs due to untreated disposal of industrial wastes into soil; it has
high toxic contaminants, which leads to soil pollution. Industrial wastes have differ-
ent amount of toxic contents and hazardous chemicals such that when deposited in
soil, they affect the soil layer strength in the top soil, thus reducing the soil fertility
and biological activity of the soil. In addition to that a hazardous effect leads to
ecological imbalances, thus making troubles in crop production. Apart from that, it
may cause severe health problem for those who are consuming such crops, because
soil and crops are contaminated by toxic chemicals and hazardous materials.

8.3.5 Effect on human health
Untreated industrial wastes have more amounts of toxic contents and hazardous
chemical wastes that are disposed into water bodies or soils. It may cause illness,
cancers and human cell poisoning, etc., for example, inorganic arsenic causes the
formation of tumors in human health. Therefore untreated industrial wastes are lia-
ble for thousands of illnesses and early deaths across the earth.

8.4 Traditional treatments methods on industrial waste

Generally, industrial wastewater treatment includes primary, secondary, and tertiary
process that involves large amounts of energy, excessive sludge production, high
operational cost, and more bad odors in the treatment of industrial wastewater. A
traditional treatment method requires more amount of energy for treating wastewa-
ter. In the last three decades, anaerobic treatment processes are finding growing