The sugar industry generates a huge quantity of by-products such as Bagasse, Bagasse fly ash (BFA), Press Mud, Molasses, and industrial effluents, which are commonly used in agriculture and industry. Nonetheless, the environmental and health risks of contamination by heavy metals are alarming. The physico-chemical properties and levels of some heavy metals- Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) in different sugar industry by-products were studied, which were obtained from the sugar mill of local sugar mill. Sample collection, preparation, and analysis were carried out by the standard methods for atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was observed that all the by-products had different metal contents, and Fe had the highest metal content in wastewater (44.41 ± 7.42 mg/L) and BFA (38.13 ± 2.10 mg/L). Cd was detected in all samples and its concentration ranged from 0.04–0.07 mg/L, thus representing a potential toxicological risk. Bagasse, BFA, and molasses exhibited elevated levels of Zn and Cu, raising concerns regarding environmental safety upon reuse. These results emphasize the importance of consistent monitoring and suitable treatment of waste from the sugar industry to prevent the buildup of toxic metals in the environment and food chain.
