Is it true that industrial effluents contain chemicals that are harmful only to aquatic life?

Industrial effluents can contain a wide range of chemicals, many of which can be harmful to both aquatic and terrestrial life. For example, heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which are commonly found in industrial effluents, can be toxic to both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Organic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also commonly found in industrial effluents, can also be toxic to a wide range of organisms, including humans.

Furthermore, many industrial chemicals can persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain, potentially causing long-term harm to wildlife and human health.

Therefore, it is important to properly treat and manage industrial effluents to minimize their impact on the environment and human health. This can include technologies such as filtration, chemical treatment, and biological treatment to remove or neutralize harmful chemicals before they are discharged into the environment.