Paper Manufacture and Its Impact on the Aquatic Environment

The pulp and paper manufacturing industry generates large quantities of wastewater and has been described as a significant pollutant of the aquatic environment for many decades. The majority of pulp mills are located in the U.S. and Canada, and these countries are therefore subject to the greatest environmental impact. Some form of toxicity following exposure to mill effluent has been documented in numerous species, both aquatic and terrestrial, and the compounds present in effluents can affect multiple physiological processes, including hepatic mechanisms, reproduction and development, and endocrine function. Although the effects of PME on wildlife have been known for some time, the detection of chlorinated organic compounds generated substantial concern to humans because of the potential risk of exposure to these highly toxic compounds through environmental persistence and bioaccumulation. Government regulations were imposed on the pulping industry in an effort to prevent further contamination and reduce the toxic potential of pulp mill effluent to both humans and wildlife.