Sterols as indicators of fecal pollution in Suoh-nada, western Seto Inland Sea

ITOH Jiroh, TATSUKAWA Ryo

doi:10.14934/chikyukagaku.11.70

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Other Title

瀬戸内海西部・周防灘における屎尿汚染指標としてのステロール
セトナイカイセイブスオウナダニオケルシニョウオセンシヒョウトシ

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Description

Coprostanol (5β-cholestan-3β-ol) and cholesterol in sea water of Suoh-nada, western Seto Inland Sea, were determined by highly sensitive analytical method, using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with multi-ion detector (GC-MS・MID). Average concentration of coprostanol was 2.7 ng/l (max. 6.3 ng/l, min. 0.9 ng/l) and that of cholesterol was 2 200ng/l (max. 3100ng/l, min. 1400ng/l). Concentration of coprostanol has high negative correlation with salinity (r=-0.71). These results suggest that coprostanol in the survey area came through the rivers. Population of man and domestic animals in coastal land were reflected on the concentrations of coprostanol in sea water. Cholesterol is not usable as an indicator of fecal pollution in the sea water, since marine plankton produce much more cholesterol than land-originated cholesterol. The evidence thus obtained supports the suggestion that coprostanol is available for an indicator of fecal pollution in marine environment. However, time factor in an indicator of fecal pollution (relationship between residence time of coprostanol and life time of fecal bacteria and fecal organic matter) remains to be studied.

Journal

Chikyukagaku

Chikyukagaku 11 (2), 70-74, 1977

The Geochemical Society of Japan