Environmental contamination, toxicity profile and bioremediation approaches for treatment and detoxification of pulp paper industry effluent

India is a vast country with around 850 large paper industries. It is ranked 17 in the highest polluting industries in India, approximately 190–200 m3 of water is needed to produce a ton of paper. Around 240–250 chemicals have been identified in effluents, which are produced at different stages of papermaking in paper industry. The pulp and paper industry is typically associated with pollution problems related to color, suspended solids, high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), organic halogens lignin and its derivatives, dioxin, furan, and chlorinated compounds. These compounds are highly toxic in nature causing strong mutagenic effects, physiological impairment, and they are ecoestrogens. Although numerous studies have looked at methods for the treatment of color, COD, BOD, etc. of pulp and paper effluents, the problem still persists. Biological treatment uses a number of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes to degrade the xenobiotic compounds present in pulp and paper industry effluent. The need for cleaner production programs has been felt in recent times by the paper industry by way of a resource and waste minimization concept. In India efforts have been going on for years to improve housekeeping, optimize process parameters, increase recycling, and adopt improved technology. This chapter aims at highlighting the processes used during the manufacture, sources, and types of waste generated and treatment options available for improving the quality of waste to be discharged.