Industry waste is either lying under the open sky, or getting mixed with water, creating severe health complications among the local community, plant life, and biodiversity
Mohmand, a district in the Peshawar Division of Pakistan, is home to the beautiful and fascinating marble stones.
The district’s white and grey marbles have international renown. The white variety has been used in UAE’s Sheikh Zaid Mosque and in many old buildings throughout Washington DC. This district also produces significant quantities of metals such as iron, chromite, and nephrite.
There are more than four hundred registered and non-registered marble quarries in the region, divided into three principal areas – Tehsil Halimzai in Upper Mohmand, and Subhan Khwar and Mohmand Industrial Zone in Lower Mohmand.
Even though these industries have created many businesses involving countless local workers, due to heavy extraction of stones and metals, and lack of a proper waste management policy, managing waste has become a complicated issue.
Marble industry waste is either lying under open sky, or getting mixed with water, creating health complications in the local community. The older population and children are especially vulnerable.
The overall biodiversity – local animal and plant life – has been negatively impacted as well.
What are the health implications?
Zahir Shah, a 45-year-old worker, said, “I did 25 to 30 years of labor work at a marble company, where I used to smash tons of marble into smaller pieces, which produces a lot of marble powder.
“When I became seriously ill with heart and lung diseases, the quarry owner did not help me. I have been bedridden ever since. Many people had warned me that if I get sick while working in the marble quarry, the owner will offer no help. But I was young and needed the money,” he added.
Zahir, who is also suffering from a crippling back injury, stated, “Marble waste not only destroys our lungs, but it also impacts our vascular system and heart. Many of us get sick and die without any treatment.”
“I was young when I started working in the quarry, and did not care about our health. When someone in the industry gets old and weak, he retires. There are no organizations here that support retired marble quarry workers.”
He continued, “Around ten years ago, when I got too sick to work, I had asked the company owner for help. He loaned me Rs 8,000. I was later forced to sell my property to repay him. I had little kids, but I could no longer work due to my age and health complications.
“I could no longer afford any treatment to ease my condition, and I never recovered physically or financially from the ordeal. The quarry owners ruin the lives of their workers. I have been warning younger people never to work for these companies. They should not destroy their lives for such a meager amount of money.”
Zahir urged the district administration to ban such industries.
Marble waste impact on human health
Dr Asad Ullah, an assistant professor of endocrinology and diabetes at Akhtar Saeed Medical College of Rawalpindi, said, “Marble waste severely impacts human health. Such waste contains toxic mineral asbestos.
“When asbestos gets mixed with air and goes into human lungs, it causes a disease called asbestosis, which gradually affects the lungs. Asbestosis symptoms include physical weakness, high body temperature, dry cough, weight loss, and clubbing of the fingertips or toes.”
The laborers working in these industries do not utilize proper SOPs (standard operating procedures), they do not use eye protection, proper clothing, or special respiratory masks. That is why they are most affected by chest and lung diseases.
Research shows that the signs and symptoms of asbestosis can appear even after 20 years.
Dr Asad added, “The diseases caused from marble waste includes asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, which are common in Mohmand, Bajure, Mardan and other marble producing regions.
“Besides, the people living near marble industries and who are passing through those areas are most vulnerable to such diseases. Similarly, when the marble industry workers go home to their families, they can spread diseases such as asbestosis to their whole family.”
He then pointed out, “Although there are laws and standards for the establishment of these industries and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for workers, those are not followed properly in Pakistan.
“The government must take effective steps to ban the establishment of such industries in residential areas, and the owners should be ordered to follow international SOPs for this sector.”
Effects of marble waste on biodiversity
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Climate Change Director Dr Habib Jan said, “Marble waste can pollute water and soil, disrupting ecosystems. It reduces water quality, harms aquatic life, and negatively impacts plant growth by altering soil PH.
“This leads to the loss of biodiversity and degradation of natural habitats.”
He added, “Marble waste can lead to soil contamination and weakening of plants, making them more susceptible to diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. The altered soil conditions can promote harmful microorganisms.
“Moreover, heavy metals from marble waste can accumulate in soil and water, leading to toxicity in plants, this affects plant growth by disrupting essential physiological processes such as photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and water balance.”
Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury can also damage root systems, reduce seed germination, and cause stunted growth or death in plants and long-term exposure leads to reduced biodiversity as sensitive species die off, altering the ecosystem balance.
Additionally, heavy metals can enter the food chain, affecting not only plants, but also animals and humans.
Recommending action, Dr Habib Jan said, “To protect biodiversity, measures such as proper waste management, soil treatment, and use of eco-friendly practices such as phytoremediation [using plants to absorb contaminants] should be implemented.
“Meanwhile, farmers should avoid using contaminated water for irrigation, maintain soil health with organic matter, and use natural barriers like plants that can filter pollutants. Proper waste disposal and soil testing can also help prevent contamination.”
Botanical scholar Hashim khan said, “Marble waste in Mohmand district is extremely dangerous for biodiversity.
“These toxic wastes are either lying under the open sky, making a layer over the leaves of the plants, or it is getting mixed with water, which ultimately changes the PH, physicochemical process and overall texture of the soil.”
As every enzyme works on a specific PH, when the PH balance changes, a plant’s growth can become severely stunted, he added.
Hashim then pointed out, “The presence of marble waste particles severely impacts plant photosynthesis, and slows down transpiration, which impacts the growth of biological species.
“During rainfall, marble waste mixes with flood water and goes to the green fields which directly impact the plant organisms and enzymes. So, when the flood water goes into wells, these wastes are absorbed by people, plants, and animals, which can cause serious diseases.”
Hashim, who works as a teacher in Ghalani Government Higher Secondary School, said, “We have already seen the ill effects of marble waste in some areas of Mohmand district lower sub-division, where the sugarcane production was severely impacted due to contaminated water.
“The local farmers have been forced to change upper surface mud and use alternate sources of water. For the safety of biodiversity in Mohmand district, this grave issue should be addressed on an emergency basis by the government and NGOs.”
Impacts on wildlife
DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) of Mohmand Wildlife Division Kiramat Shah said, “Marble industry waste contaminates water resources, impacting wildlife by polluting their habitats, disturbing water quality, and potentially causing respiratory and digestive issues in animals.
“Similarly, fishes, amphibians and invertebrates may suffer from reduced oxygen levels. As they are unable to survive in contaminated waters, it leads to a loss of biodiversity. When marble dust becomes airborne, it can pose respiratory threats to both wildlife and humans.”
Kiramat added, “Prolonged exposure to marble waste can lead to respiratory issues, skin diseases, and poisoning in wildlife. Polluted water sources may also spread pathogens affecting animal populations.
“Besides this, birds and small animals that inhale the dust are at risk of respiratory illnesses and lung damage.”
Recommending steps to mitigate the contamination, Kiramat said, “Efforts must be taken to regularly clean and treat polluted water sources, set up filtration systems, and restrict wildlife access to contaminated areas.
“Restoring polluted areas through soil remediation, planting native vegetation, and cleaning contaminated water sources can help restore the local ecosystem, providing wildlife with healthier habitats.”
Kiramat pointed out that proper waste management systems in quarries, awareness and community involvement, use of sedimentation ponds to filter runoff, and enforcement of environmental regulations can be adapted as precautionary methods.
What is the government’s perspective?
Industrial Development Officer at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industries Department Faheem Ullah Tarakzai said, “Mohmand is home to more than 150 marble industries. Under the Marble Waste Management Rules 2012 and Stone Crushers Rules 2020, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration is working to reduce the environmental impacts of the marble industry.
He added that the marble industry produces about 30% of slurry waste from quarry production, 15%-20% from processing activities, and 5%-7% from polishing waste. In terms of waste management, the Pakistani government imposes the rules of proper waste disposal, recycling, and reuse of marble waste to minimize environmental harm.
About the regulations, Tarakzai said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Industries Department are responsible for enforcing these rules and ensuring compliance from marble industries.
Specific regulatory measures include licensing and permits for marble industries, regular inspections and monitoring, penalties for non-compliance, and waste disposal and recycling. The industry must dispose of waste in designated areas and follow proper waste management protocols.
Responding to a question about government activities for proper marble waste management, Tarakzai said, “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has initiated various activities to promote proper marble waste management in the marble industry.”
The key steps among such initiatives are –
1. Establishment of Marble City in Ekka Ghund, namely Marble estate industrial zone at Michni area – a dedicated zone for marble processing and waste management.
2. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for regular monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations.
3. National Environmental Policy (2010) emphasizes sustainable resource utilization and waste minimization.
4. Marble Waste Management Rules (2012) impose specific regulations for marble industry waste disposal.
5. Hazardous Substances Rules (1999) offer guidelines for handling hazardous waste.
6. The Marble Waste Recycling Project (MWRRP) aims to recycle 50% of marble waste. This initiative was taken by PCSIR at the industrial estate Tribal District Mohmand in Ekkaghund Tehsil.
Tarakzai said the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Industries Department KP, Labor Department and local district administrations engage in waste management and minimizing the effects of marble waste.
Limited resources, lack of infrastructure and Insufficient public awareness are the main challenges. In future, the administration plans to overcome these challenges, while also trying to expand Marble City and establish proper waste management in this region.
An industry owner’s perspective
Mohmand Lining and Minerals Pvt Ltd CEO Gulab Hussain said, “My company, established in 2016, makes boric acid (H3Bo6) from special marble stones, which are found in Mohmand. We have made efforts to protect the health of our laborers from dust.
“We have installed new machinery to minimize direct involvement of laborers. Machines now do most of the quarry work, from grinding stones to final packaging. We also provide PPEs [personal protective equipment] to our laborers, and terminate those who refuse to follow health and safety guidelines.
Hussain claimed that the dust from the marble industry neither goes into the water nor is it lying under open sky, which can create severe health issues for humans and other organisms.
He stated, “There are still marble industries in hilly areas of Mohmand district. They are still using the old and conventional methods of grinding, which not only creates human health issues, but also impacts local agriculture and wildlife species.
“For the safety of humans and local biodiversity, the government should take firm action against quarries not integrating a waste management policy.”
The government must make serious efforts to ensure that the marble industry is following proper waste management policy. Firm action should be taken against those who violate regulations, to safeguard the residents and workers of the Mohmand district.
Murad Khan, the author of this article, is a Radio Producer and Freelance Journalist who Tweets from @muradonline123.
