ASSESSMENT OF FECAL STEROLS AND KETONES AS INDICATORS OF URBAN SEWAGE INPUTS TO COASTAL WATERS

The sterol and sterone compositions of aquatic samples, namely, water particulates and sediments, collected in urban polluted and pristine areas have been investigated for the assessment of steroid components as chemical markers of urban sewage contamination. The results have shown that the occurrence of coprostanol [5β(H)-cholestan-3β-ol] cannot by itself be unambiguously attributed to fecal matter inputs. However, these contributions can be positively identified when the relative concentrations of this sterol and the related 5β(H)-cholestan-3-one (coprostanone) are higher than their corresponding 5α epimers. In this respect, coprostanone provides a useful complementary parameter for urban sewage monitoring, especially in cases of moderate to low pollution. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.