Abstract

The paper reviews the development of water quality legislation which effectively limits discharges of insecticides and biocides and requires analytical measurements of nanogram/litre quantities. In the case of insecticides, where tanners are passive users, analytical procedures for determining Hexachlorocyclohexane in raw stock, process liquors and trade effluents are described based on GLC procedures. A scheme for identifying fungicides in semi-processed leathers has been developed which is based on HPLC. Industrial scale trials have shown that product formulation can affect uptake of the active component, so altering the degree of protection given by comparable nominal offers.