Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring
Abstract Wastewater containing human sewage is often discharged with little or no treatment into the Antarctic marine environment. Faecal sterols (primarily coprostanol) in sediments have been used for assessment of human sewage contamination in this environment, but in situ production and indigenou...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000273 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102014000273 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102014000273 2024-09-30T14:26:11+00:00 Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring Leeming, Rhys Stark, Jonathan S. Smith, James J. 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000273 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102014000273 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 27, issue 1, page 31-43 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2014 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000273 2024-09-04T04:04:48Z Abstract Wastewater containing human sewage is often discharged with little or no treatment into the Antarctic marine environment. Faecal sterols (primarily coprostanol) in sediments have been used for assessment of human sewage contamination in this environment, but in situ production and indigenous faunal inputs can confound such determinations. Using gas chromatography with mass spectral detection profiles of both C 27 and C 29 sterols, potential sources of faecal sterols were examined in nearshore marine sediments, encompassing sites proximal and distal to the wastewater outfall at Davis Station. Faeces from indigenous seals and penguins were also examined. Faeces from several indigenous species contained significant quantities of coprostanol but not 24-ethylcoprostanol, which is present in human faeces. In situ coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol production was identified by co-production of their respective epi -isomers at sites remote from the wastewater source and in high total organic matter sediments. A C 29 sterols-based polyphasic likelihood assessment matrix for human sewage contamination is presented, which distinguishes human from local fauna faecal inputs and in situ production in the Antarctic environment. Sewage contamination was detected up to 1.5 km from Davis Station. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica Cambridge University Press Antarctic The Antarctic Davis Station ENVELOPE(77.968,77.968,-68.576,-68.576) Davis-Station ENVELOPE(77.968,77.968,-68.576,-68.576) Antarctic Science 27 1 31 43 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Wastewater containing human sewage is often discharged with little or no treatment into the Antarctic marine environment. Faecal sterols (primarily coprostanol) in sediments have been used for assessment of human sewage contamination in this environment, but in situ production and indigenous faunal inputs can confound such determinations. Using gas chromatography with mass spectral detection profiles of both C 27 and C 29 sterols, potential sources of faecal sterols were examined in nearshore marine sediments, encompassing sites proximal and distal to the wastewater outfall at Davis Station. Faeces from indigenous seals and penguins were also examined. Faeces from several indigenous species contained significant quantities of coprostanol but not 24-ethylcoprostanol, which is present in human faeces. In situ coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol production was identified by co-production of their respective epi -isomers at sites remote from the wastewater source and in high total organic matter sediments. A C 29 sterols-based polyphasic likelihood assessment matrix for human sewage contamination is presented, which distinguishes human from local fauna faecal inputs and in situ production in the Antarctic environment. Sewage contamination was detected up to 1.5 km from Davis Station. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Leeming, Rhys Stark, Jonathan S. Smith, James J. |
spellingShingle |
Leeming, Rhys Stark, Jonathan S. Smith, James J. Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
author_facet |
Leeming, Rhys Stark, Jonathan S. Smith, James J. |
author_sort |
Leeming, Rhys |
title |
Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
title_short |
Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
title_full |
Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
title_fullStr |
Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
title_full_unstemmed |
Novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in Antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
title_sort |
novel use of faecal sterols to assess human faecal contamination in antarctica: a likelihood assessment matrix for environmental monitoring |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000273 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102014000273 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(77.968,77.968,-68.576,-68.576) ENVELOPE(77.968,77.968,-68.576,-68.576) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Davis Station Davis-Station |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Davis Station Davis-Station |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 27, issue 1, page 31-43 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102014000273 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
31 |
op_container_end_page |
43 |
_version_ |
1811646638059421696 |