International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences ISSN 0973-6077 Volume 15, Number 1 (2020), pp. 77-92 © Research India Publications http://www.ripublication.com/ijaes.htm Environmental Impacts of Pulp Paper Mill Effluent: Potential Source of Chromosomal Aberration and Phytotoxicity Pooja Sharma, Sonam Tripathi and Ram Chandra * Department of Environmental Microbiology, School for Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Vidya Vihar, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226025, India. Abstract The compounds of pulp paper mill effluent discharged after secondary treatment is a major source of environmental toxicity, which is not yet known. The physico-chemical analysis of discharged effluent showed various pollution parameters (pH, TDS, TSS, BOD, COD) beyond permissible limit. Furthermore, the BOD, COD ratio of discharged effluent <0.2 this indicated not biodegradable properties of effluent. Therefore, persistent longer in environment and caused toxicity to aquatic resources. The analysis of effluent showed the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals along with genotoxicity compound i.e. hexadecanoic acid and octadecenoic acid. Majority of these pollutants are androgenic and mutagenic in nature derived from plant steroid, fatty and resin acids of the plant during pulping processes which were not degraded by bacterial communities during biological treatment of effluent. Presences of recalcitrant pollutants along with a mixture of heavy metals i.e. Fe (81), Zn (31), Cu (4.05), Cd (1.26), Mn (19), Ni (6.03), Cr (4.21) and Pb (43.61 mg L -1 ) beyond the permissible limit contributed BOD, COD and reduced DO. The seed germination test with Triticum aestivum and chromosomal aberration test with Allium cepa showed the inhibition and disturbed chromosomal segregation during cell division of metaphase and anaphase which showed sticky chromosome, laggard chromosome and polyploidy cells in Allium cepa treated with effluent. Hence, this manuscript will be of global interest for monitoring of recalcitrant pollutants discharged after biological treatment from pulp paper industry for aquatic pollution prevention. Keywords: Effluent, Chlorolignins; Heavy metals; Toxicity; Seed germination