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Tanning is the most important operation in leather processing, which turned the leather into a non-putrefying material. Tanning may be carried out with chromium salts (III) or with a variety of other tanning agents. In present days, tanning with chromium salts (III) is the most widely used technique in industrial processing of leather, almost 90% of leather goods being processed by this method. Taking into account the fact that the wastes from the leather and fur industry are framed by Commission Decision 532/2000 under code 04 01 08 (non hazardous), this study aim's to analyze the leachability of total chromium from tanned and dyed leather waste originated from leather processing industries, in order to establish the environmental risks of them. Leachability tests, conductometric tests and determination of the refractive index were carried for three types of tanned leather waste (G-gray, Bn-brown, Bk-black), at different temperatures. The results shown that the values for the total chromium in leachate were higher than the maximum allowed concentration for the hazardous waste (MAC = 70 mg/kg). The leachability of total chromium increased at low temperatures (5-13°C) and at high temperatures (40-60°C). In Romania an important amount of tanned leather waste reaches the municipal landfills. These results indicate that the leather waste can be disposed only in special landfills for hazardous waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baia Mare region is one of the most polluted areas from our country due to extraction and processing of ores with high content of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and precious metals. The main objectives of the present study were: to assess the groundwater quality by determine the physico-chemical parameters values, dissolved ions and heavy metal concentration and to evaluate if those groundwater sources can be used for irrigation and drinking purposes by calculating 10 specific quality indexes. A total of 70 groundwater samples were collected from 14 private wells and springs from Baia Mare and surrounding areas (November 2013 and December 2013, June 2014, September 2014 and December 2014). In situ a portable multiparameter WTW Inolab 320i respectively a portable turbidimeter were used to determine the physico-chemical parameters like: pH, ORP, EC, TDS, DO, salinity and turbidity. The dissolved ions (Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, Br-, NO2-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42-) were analysed in laboratory by using an ion chromatograph IC DIONEX 1500. An atomic absorption spectrometer ZEENIT 700 was used to determine the heavy metals concentrations like: Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. After calculating the specific quality indexes (WQI, MI, HPI, PI, SAR, % Na, SSP, MH, MR and KR), the obtained results indicated that the majority of the investigated water sources are not recommended for drinking and most of them are suitable to be used only like irrigation waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]