Mihir Herlekar
@hbsu.ac.in
Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science
The Institute of Science, Dr. Homi Bhabha State University
• Ph. D. Botany: Green nanotechnology for domestic wastewater treatment.
• More than eight years of collective research, academic and professional work experience.
• Ability to initiate and execute independent research and work well in a team.
EDUCATION
1. Ph. D. Botany: KET’s V. G. Vaze College, University of Mumbai, 2018
Thesis Title: “In situ Nanoremediation of Lakes using Biologically Synthesized Metal Nanoparticles” under guidance of Dr. S. S. Barve
2. M. Sc. Environmental Science, The Institute of Science, University of Mumbai, Ist Class, 2006
Dissertation Title: Toxic Trace Metal Analysis Methods
3. PG Diploma in Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, University of Mumbai, Ist Class, 2004
Dissertation Title: Phytoremediation: The Green Cure
4. B. Sc. Microbiology, MVLU College, University of Mumbai, IInd Class, 1999-2002
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Water-Wastewater and Air quality monitoring & analysis, Green synthesis of Nanoparticles, Environmental Nanotechnology, Sustainable agriculture, Waste management, Green chemistry
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Anju Singh, Megha Sawant, Mihir Herlekar, Enrique Aymerich, and Markus Starkl
Elsevier BV
G. Ayush, A. Elizabeth, V. V. Patil and M. Herlekar
Noise is an underestimated threat that can cause several short- and long-term health problems. It is increasingly becoming a potential hazard to health, physically and psychologically, and affects the general well-being of an individual. The objective of the current study was to examine noise levels at ten different locations in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha State, India based on the land use pattern in urban and rural setup. The paper focuses on deploying geospatial techniques using ArcGIS desktop to perform better sampling and further interpolate the statistical data using the Kriging technique to generate a surface representing the distribution of noise levels in various areas. In addition, a health impact survey enabled us to understand the perspectives of the people in and around the monitoring location where health issues like stress, headache, hypertension, and sleeping disorders emerged as some of the most common issues faced. Noise levels were in the range of 43.0 to 74.5 (A) Leq. in rural areas and 61 to 96.5 dB (A) Leq in urban areas. In the current study, noise levels in rural and urban areas exceeded the recommended noise limits as per The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
Amrita I. Kakka, Mihir D. Herlekar, and Shivani Awale
Technoscience Publications
A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of a biopesticide and a chemical pesticide using Daphnia magna as a model aquatic faunal species. The primary survey revealed that Neemark and Tafgor are being commonly used by the farmers. The acute toxicity tests were conducted on Daphnia magna for two series of concentration ranges 100 ppm to 1000 ppm and 1000 ppm to 4000 ppm. The (Lethal Concentration) LC50 values for series 1 of Neemark and Tafgor were 522.86 ppm and 439.46 ppm, respectively, whereas it was 1840.48 ppm and 1335.97 ppm, respectively for for Series 2. A significant difference in the mortality rates between Neemark and Tafgor in the concentration range of 1000 ppm to 4000 ppm was observed (t = 2.483, p < 0.05). A combination treatment of Neemark and Tafgor in different proportions showed that the 2:1 v/v (Neemark: Tafgor) ratio showed the lowest toxicity with a LC50 value of 1067.78 ppm, suggesting its preferability in application on the field. Two–way ANOVA shows that the concentration of pesticides plays a significant role in the mortality of Daphnia (F = 19.729, p < 0.05) and so does the combination ratio treatment (F = 7.166, p < 0.05). These results suggest that these two factors along with the selection of a suitable plant-based pesticide play a critical role in the reduction in mortality rates of aquatic organisms.
Anju Singh, Megha Sawant, Sheetal Jaisingh Kamble, Mihir Herlekar, Markus Starkl, Enrique Aymerich, and Absar Kazmi
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
A Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) provides an economically feasible and efficient wastewater treatment solution especially in developing countries. It has an enormous potential for developing a sustainable environmental sanitation system. In this study, the treatment efficiency of eight DEWATS plants was evaluated in the state of Maharashtra, India, for their performance in terms of selected physico-chemical parameters of the wastewater. Although the efficiency of some of the plants was lower than that reported in literature, the effluent quality of all the plants was within the permissible discharge limits of the Central Pollution Control Board for all the parameters. Comprehensive assessment of Plant I was carried in terms of its technical and socio-economic aspects. Moreover, LCA tool has been utilized to evaluate the environmental impacts of the operation stage of DEWATS. The midpoint, CML 2001 (April 2015) methodology was adopted, in which 11 impact categories were considered. From the life cycle impact assessment and interpretation, the main impacts are identified as releases of COD, P-PO43−, and N-NH4+ to water bodies and disposal of sludge. Due to negligible energy consumption, the operation stage was found to be less damaging to the environment. It was concluded that DEWATS can be a good alternative for treating wastewater with negligible energy and chemical consumption.
A., Singh, A. Kazmi, M. Starkl, S. Sayanekar, and M. Herlekar
Desalination Publications
Mihir Herlekar, Abba Elizabeth Joseph, Rakesh Kumar, and Indrani Gupta
Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research
Particulate matter (PM10) has emerged as the single most important pollutant across Indian cities, as its levels exceed the regulated standards at most places. PM10 was collected and analyzed at seven sites representing different land use patterns in Mumbai during 2007-08 for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). OC was further speciated for organic markers, which are useful for identifying sources. Average PAH concentration ranged from 47.84 ± 14.07 to 247.70 ± 163.19 ng/m^3. n-alkanes concentration varied from 157.20 ± 35.28 to 759.13 ± 451.65 ng/m^3. Hopanes and steranes showed the highest concentrations of 94.14 ± 28.66 and 32.64 ± 11.79 ng/m^3 and lowest concentrations of 7.81 ± 2.00 ng/m^3 and 2.83 ± 0.73 ng/m^3, respectively. The values for levoglucosan varied from 0.69 ± 0.46 to 3.23 ± 2.07 μg/m^3. The percentage contribution of the sum of the concentrations of these compounds to the total organic carbon varied from 1.7-5.1%. The sources contributing to particulate PAHs were identified using diagnostic ratios. Indicators like the Carbon Preference Index (CPI), Cmax and Plant Wax Number (%WNA) were used to identify the relative contributions to n-alkanes from anthropogenic and biogenic emissions. The source apportionment results and also the concentration trends for these molecular markers indicate that anthropogenic sources, especially vehicular exhaust, wood combustion and coal combustion, are mainly responsible for the organic fraction of particulate matter in Mumbai city. The sources identified qualitatively in this work can help in selecting the appropriate source profiles for estimating the quantitative contribution of these sources.