Effects of Leather Industry on Health and Recommendations for Improving the Situation in Pakistan

The leather industry and its associated sectors contribute significantly to the Pakistani economy. There are around 600 tanneries in Pakistan that are concentrated in 3 major cities (Kasur, Karachi, Sialkot). Waste discharge from tanneries pollutes the air, soil, and water, causing serious health problems. Exposure to such contaminated environmental milieu has been seen to culminate in a multiple array of disease processes such as asthma, dermatitis, hepatic and neurological disorders, and various malignancies. An overall dearth of research on the occupational hazards of employment in the leather industry as well as its effects on pediatric population was observed during literature review with particular reference to Pakistan. It is recommended that research should be conducted about the health hazards in the leather industry in Pakistan as well as globally to gather data that can be translated into effective prevention programs for both adults as well as pediatric populations