The present research work deals with the study of some of the important physico-chemical parameters of industrial waste water effluents collected from Taloja industrial belt of Mumbai. The study reveals that engineering, paper mill, fine chemical, dyes, paint, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and textile industries are some of the major industries responsible for polluting the surrounding aquatic environment. It was observed that pH values of effluent samples collected from paint, pharmaceutical and dyes industries were slightly above and below the limit of 6.5 to 8.5 by ISI and WHO. The effluent samples collected from textile industries shows extremely high Total Dissolved Soild (TDS) content of 12023.6 mg/L and correspondingly high Total Solid (TS) content of 13499.2 mg/L. The chloride content in the effluents from textile industries was 238.4 mg/L which was significantly high than acceptable limit of 200 mg/L set by WHO. The BOD values of effluent samples collected from pharmaceutical, dyes, engineering and paint industries were 1047.3, 776.2, 604.8 and 535.8 mg/L respectively which lie above the maximum permitted BOD content of < 100 to 300 mg/L. The COD values in the different industrial effluent samples were also very much higher than maximum permissible limit of 4.0 mg/L according to USPH Standard. The overall results highlight towards the discharge of highly polluted waste water effluent from industries of Taloja Industrial area of Mumbai. These industrial effluents have resulted in pollution of nearby Kasardi River thereby affecting the growth of vegetation and aquatic life. The results of the present investigation point out the need to implement common objectives, compatible policies and programmes for improvement in the industrial waste water treatment methods.

In the present investigation, quantification study of different toxic heavy metals in the sediment samples of Vasai Creek of Mumbai was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy technique. The study is of importance because such assessment of heavy metals in sediments helps to understand long term pollution load in aquatic environment. Such study will also help to provide a means for evaluating the long term accumulation of heavy metal contaminants. The results of the study indicates that the concentration level of most of the toxic heavy metals like Al, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sr and Mn for the assessment year 2010-11 were higher than that obtained for the year 2009-10 by the factor of 1.0 to 2.5 µg/g. It is expected that results of present investigation will help in rational planning of pollution control strategies so as to reduce the toxicity impact on marine life of Vasai Creek.

The area of study selected in the present investigation was Kasardi River which receives heavy discharge of waste effluent from the nearby Taloja industrial belt which is one of the fastest developing industrial belt of Mumbai. The study was performed to investigate the concentration of toxic heavy metals like chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and iron (Fe) in river. It was observed that concentration of most of these heavy metals were much higher than the maximum permissible limits. These heavy metals have created threat to the aquatic life and through biomagnifications may enter the food chain thereby affecting the human beings as well. The research work was extended further to study the physico-chemical properties like temperature, pH, solid content, chloride, oil / grease content, BOD and COD values of the river water. The authors point out that as India moves towards stricter regulation of industrial effluents to control water pollution, there is a need to implement common objectives, compatible policies and programmes for improvement in the industrial waste water treatment methods.

The present study highlight the toxicity levels of different heavy metals in aquatic environment of one of the most polluted river of Mumbai-the Mithi River. Although the river has attracted tremendous attention after 26/7 flood in Mumbai, the pollution level of the river has remained neglected issue. The present study was performed for two assessment years 2009-10 and 2010-11 at three different sampling stations namely Airport, CST Kalina and BKC Taximen's Colony along the flow of Mithi River. The results of present investigation indicates that the concentration levels of most of the heavy metals like Al, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sr and Mn obtained during the assessment year 2010-11 was higher than that obtained during 2009-10 by the factor of 1.4 to 5.7 µg/L. The environmental impact of these toxic heavy metals is discussed. The results point out the need of rational planning of pollution control strategies, so as to keep check on release of toxic heavy metals in the river. It is expected that the present study will be useful for rational planning of pollution control strategies and their prioritisation; to evaluate effectiveness of pollution control measures already is existence and to assess the nature and extent of pollution control needed.

The thermal degradation of some sulfonic cationites namely Amberlite IR-120, Indion-223 and Indion-225 was investigated using instrumental techniques like thermal analysis (TG) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the resins degradation steps. The sulfonic cationites undergo degradation through dehydration, followed by decomposition of sulfonic acid functional groups liberating SO 2 . The thermogravimetric analysis of above cationites at higher temperature up to 520˚C, show mass loss of 61.61% and 25.43% respectively for Indion-223 and Indion-225, while Amberlite IR-120 cationite get burned off completely.