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A comparison between faecal sterols and coliform counts in the investigation of sewage contamination in sediments

Abstracts

In September 2002, nine sediment samples (0-2 cm) were collected from Botafogo Cove (southwestern part of Guanabara Bay) in order to compare the use of chemical (coprostanol) and biological markers (E. coli and total coliforms) in identifying faecal contamination. The values found (organic carbon - 6.0 to 64.8 mg g-1; coprostanol - 1.4 to 105 µg g-1; E. coli - < 30 to 2400 NMP/10g and total coliforms - 40 to 9300 NMP/10g) were similar to or even higher than those observed in other contaminated areas of Guanabara Bay. In stations close to the shoreline, both coprostanol concentration and bacteria count confirmed that domestic sewage had accumulated in the cove. Coprostanol concentrations were still relatively high in the stations furthest from contamination sources, although faecal material represented a smaller fraction of the total organic carbon originated by dilution in waters containing algae. Reduction was proportionately higher by virtue of the use of the colimetric assessment method. This result may be associated with the effect that environmental variables (light, salinity, temperature) may have on the survival of bacteria during transport and deposition of sewage particles. Consequently, based on these results, coprostanol may be considered the better indicator of the faecal contamination level in Botafogo Cove sediments.

Guanabara bay; Brazil; domestic sewage; coprostanol; faecal indicator bacteria


Em setembro de 2002, foram coletadas nove amostras de sedimento superficial (0-2 cm) na Enseada de Botafogo (sudoeste da Baía de Guanabara/RJ), a fim de comparar o uso de marcadores químicos (coprostanol) e biológicos (E. coli e coliformes totais) na identificação da contaminação fecal da região. Os resultados obtidos (carbono orgânico - 6,0 to 64,8 mg g-1; coprostanol - 1,4 to 105 µg g-1; E. coli - < 30 to 2400 NMP/10g e coliformes totais - 40 to 9300 NMP/10g) foram iguais ou maiores aos observados em outras áreas contaminadas da Baía de Guanabara. Nas estações próximas à linha de costa, as concentrações de coprostanol e as contagens das bactérias confirmaram que o esgoto doméstico se acumulou no sedimento da enseada. As concentrações de coprostanol se mantiveram altas nas estações distantes das fontes de contaminação, porém o material fecal representou uma menor fração do carbono orgânico. Nessas mesmas estações, redução na contagem de colimetria foi proporcionalmente mais alta, provavelmente pela baixa sobrevivência das bactérias devido ao efeito de luz, salinidade e temperatura. durante o transporte e deposição das partículas de esgoto. Portanto, baseando-se nos resultados obtidos, o coprostanol foi um indicador mais adequado da contaminação fecal nos sedimentos da Enseada de Botafogo.

Baía de Guanabara; Brasil; esgoto domésticos; coprostanol; bactérias indicadoras


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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    08 July 2009
  • Date of issue
    Dec 2005

History

  • Accepted
    29 Nov 2005
  • Reviewed
    01 Nov 2005
  • Received
    22 June 2005
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