Toxic heavy metals in the Mahul Creek water of Mumbai, India

The present study was performed for the period of one year from January 2013 to December 2013 in order to understand the level of toxic heavy metals in the water of Mahul Creek near Mumbai. It was observed that the annual average concentration of heavy metals like Cd, As, Hg, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn, was found to be 0.003, 0.004, 0.0009, 0.012, 0.015, 0.019, 0.04 and 0.23 ppm respectively. The results suggest that there is a need to have such scientific monitoring for longer time period in order to understand the trend in level of these toxic heavy metals discharged in to the creek water. It is feared that the existing problem if ignored may increase the level of this heavy metals in creek water thereby creating threat to the biological life of an aquatic ecosystem. From the results of the present investigation it seems that the time has come to move towards ecosystem specific discharge standards to maintain the health and productivity of natural resources on which the majority of Indians are dependent.