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BIBTEX RIS

Chemical and biological indicators of sewage river input to an urban tropical estuary (Guanabara Bay, Brazil)

2018; Elsevier BV; Volume: 90; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.03.046

1872-7034

Luíza Albuquerque de Assis Costa, Denise Maria Mano Pessoa, Renato S. Carreira,

Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Spatial and temporal variations in raw sewage input via river discharge to a tropical bay (Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) were characterized by considering chemical (sterols, δ13C) and biological (E. coli) indicators in suspended particles collected during three periods in eight representative rivers that contribute to the bay. Coprostanol concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 206 μg L−1, averaging 21.9 ± 43.4 μg L−1, whereas thermotolerant coliforms counts ranged between 0.4 × 103 and 1.1 × 1012 MPN/100 mL. A close relationship between the most contaminated rivers and human density occupation was determined, revealing the extreme lack of basic sanitation networks in the largest metropolitan region on the coast of Brazil. Coprostanol concentrations of 0.060 μg L−1 correspond to the limit established in the national legislation for primary contact water according to microbiological standards (thermotolerant coliforms). Therefore, this criterion based on coprostanol can be used as an additional tool to monitor the quality of the water used for recreation in the region.