durable. This process of tanning is done usually twice to soften the leather to its desired texture. Chromium tanning also creates a stronger product that is more resistant to water and creates less shrinkage when in contact. Environmental impact The environmental impact of leather, especially at the tanning process, has a mass negative effect. The waste product of tanning can be broken down into two categories. Water waste An enormous amount of polluted water is discharged from the tanning process. Almost 90% of pollution of the leather industry comes from the tanning and pre tanning stages of production. As a base calculation, tanning one ton of hide creates 20 to 80 cubic meters of polluted water. Due to chemicals raising the pH levels in the water, a large amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The water also shows an increase in chloride and sulphate levels. The process also uses a large amount of water, which is not environmentally friendly. One example of poor disposal of wastewater can be seen in Hazaribagh, Bangladesh. Ironically Hazaribagh in Urdu translates to "a thousand gardens"; quite the contrary to what the situation is like. Despite the leather industry in Bangladesh being a 1 billion dollar industry, providing thousands of jobs to many, the environmental impact is grave. The use of chromium salts, acids and toxins have caused the Buriganga River, which runs along Hazaribagh, to turn black. An estimated 21,600 cubic meters of polluted water was disposed per day in 2005. Solid waste Tanneries produce a huge amount of solid waste. Generally 35-60% of the total amount of solid waste is organic matter. This consists of the flesh and organic body parts of the animal. Due to decomposition, a lack of composting or efficient disposal can cause a lot of disease and unsanitary waste. This affects groundwater systems and agricultural activities as the waste is usually dumped in landfills. Health complications The tanning industry not only causes detrimental environmental impact, it also creates many health complications for workers in countries without effective safety regulations and protection standards. Some of these countries are China, India and Bangladesh. The toxic exposure to the chemicals in tanneries causes skin and respiratory disease amongst workers due to the lack of safety equipment and training. Tanneries that use chromium increase the chances of workers getting respiratory illnesses and can sometimes lead to lung, nasal