
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Volkman, John K. 
A1  - O'Leary, Teresa 
A1  - Leeming, Rhys 
A1  - Nichols, Peter D. 
A1  - Volkman, John K. 
T1  - Assessment of the sources, transport and fate of sewage-derived organic matter in Port Phillip Bay, Australia, using the signature lipid coprostanol
JF  - Marine and Freshwater Research
JO  - Mar. Freshwater Res.
Y1  - 1999
VL  - 50
IS  - 6
SP  - 547
EP  - 556
KW  - sterols, fatty acids, coprostanol, pollution monitoring, signature lipids, diatoms, microalgae, organic matter sources
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MF98051 
N2  - To evaluate the distribution of faecal material in Port Phillip Bay, surface sediments from sites throughout the bay and inflowing water courses were analysed for fatty acids and sterols. Water samples were also collected to identify possible sources of faecal contamination. Bay sediments had total fatty acid concentrations between 4 and 183 &#181;g g&#8211;1 (dry weight) and total sterol concentrations between 0.6 and 39.2 &#181;g g&#8211;1. Creek sediments contained more sterols, ranging from 22.8&#8211;148 &#181;g g&#8211;1. These lipid distributions suggest that the bulk of the labile organic matter derives from marine microalgae, primarily diatoms. Coprostanol (5&#946;-cholestan-3&#946;-ol), a sterol often used as an indicator of faecal contamination, was also present. Concentrations ranged from &#60;0.01&#8211;0.55 &#181;g g&#8211;1 in surface sediments, with values over 0.25 &#181;g g&#8211;1 and 5&#946;-/5&#945;-C27 stanol ratios greater than 0.4, indicative of sewage inputs. A clearer picture of distributions of sewage-derived organic matter was obtained when coprostanol was normalized to total organic matter rather than sediment dry weight. Areas showing higher coprostanol concentrations included those adjacent to the main sewage treatment plant and several low-volume drains and creeks, indicating localized problems of sewage contamination. 
ER  -

