Distribution of sewage pollution around a maritime Antarctic research station indicated by faecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and faecal sterol markers

Hughes, Kevin A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2701-726X; Thompson, Anu. 2004 Distribution of sewage pollution around a maritime Antarctic research station indicated by faecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and faecal sterol markers. Environmental Pollution, 127 (3). 315-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2003.09.004

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Abstract/Summary

This study describes the distribution of sewage pollution markers (faecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and faecal sterols) in seawater and marine sediments around Rothera Research Station, Antarctic Peninsula. Untreated sewage waste has been released from this site since 1975, creating the potential for long-term contamination of the benthic environment. Faecal coliform concentrations in seawater reached background levels within 300 m of the outfall. In sediment cores, both C. perfringens and faecal coliform concentrations declined with distance from the outfall, though C. perfringens persisted at greater depths in the sediment. High concentrations of 5beta(H)-cholestan-3beta-of (coprostanol) relative to the corresponding 5alpha-epimer (cholestanol), indicative of sewage pollution, were only found in sediments within 200 m of the sewage outfall. This study has shown that sewage contamination is limited to the immediate vicinity of the sewage outfall. Nevertheless, a sewage treatment plant was installed in February 2003 to reduce this contamination further.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2003.09.004
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds
ISSN:	0269-7491
Additional Keywords:	Antarctica, faecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens, faecal sterols, sewage
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Ecology and Environment Earth Sciences
Date made live:	18 Jan 2012 14:08 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12208

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2003.09.004

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Keywords:

Antarctica, faecal coliforms, Clostridium perfringens, faecal sterols, sewage

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences
Ecology and Environment
Earth Sciences