Toxicity of coastal sediments due to point and nonpoint source pollution, toxicity of energy related wastes, solid wastes, bio and phyto remediation of pollutants, toxicity reduction due to photodegradation of pesticides, toxicity reduction by specific separation of pollutants using organic ligands..

Makesh K. Karuppiah received B.S. degree in Biology , M.S. and M. Phil degrees in Environmental Sciences from Bharathiar University, India, and the Ph.D. degree in Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland in 1986, 1989, 1991, and 1996 respectively. Currently he is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. His current research includes toxicity of energy related wastes, bioremediation, industrial effluent treatment, fate and toxicity of pollutants in coastal areas and photodegradation of pesticides..