Preliminary monitoring of physicochemical parameters and assessment of heavy metal contamination of textile industry effluents as emerging environmental threats

Textile industries release large volumes of effluents enriched with azo dyes and heavy metals, posing severe risks to soil, water quality, agriculture, and human health. This study assessed the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination of soils and wastewaters in the Sanganer textile hub, Jaipur district, India. Standard analytical methods revealed alkaline soils (pH 8.6–9.4) with low cation exchange capacity (2.26–2.52 meq/100 g) and depleted organic carbon (0.12–0.25%), indicating reduced fertility. Wastewater samples exhibited extremely high pollution loads, including total dissolved solids (up to 2976 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (410–499 mg/L), and chemical oxygen demand (1347–2582 mg/L), all far exceeding WHO standards. Heavy metal concentrations were elevated in both soil (Pb up to 5.44 ppm; Cr up to 7.88 ppm) and wastewater (Cu up to 5.43 ppm; Cr up to 3.10 ppm). These findings demonstrate that untreated textile effluents substantially degrade soil and water quality, threatening sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health. The results emphasize the urgent need for effective treatment strategies and sustainable bioremediation approaches to mitigate pollution and safeguard environmental resources.