Impact of industrial wastewater discharge on the environment and human health

The discharge of industrial wastewater into the environment is an issue of particular concern especially in developing countries. In some cases, these industrial wastewater effluents are untreated or inadequately treated before being discharged and represent a threat to the environment and human health. This chapter highlights the scientific literature published in the last decade on issues related to the discharge of polluted industrial wastewater, including a review of general environmental pollutants, both chemical and microbial, as well as the ecological implications of industrial wastewater discharge for the environment, in water, soil and air ecosystems. Finally, the health impacts of these pollutants is summarized. The authors are aware that regular monitoring and appropriate legislation is necessary to avoid or minimize this problem and, in this context, the challenges and future perspectives related to the discharge of industrial wastewaters are presented.