Assessment of non-point sources of fecal pollution in coastal waters of Puerto Rico and Trinidad

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Abstract

Traditional and molecular methods (PCR) were used to detect, quantify and identify the source of fecal pollution in coastal sites of Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Enterococci and Escherichia coli standard plate counts were used as a general indicator of fecal contamination while the PCR detection of Bifidobacteria adolescentis and human or bovine specific Bacteroidales were used to examine potential sources. Seven of 14 sites in Trinidad including Maracas Bay which is a major public beach contained significant fecal contamination based on enterococci numbers counts exceeding established thresholds for areas of direct contact. Forty six percent of the 27 stations in Puerto Rico were over the established thresholds for enterococci and 49% according to E. coli counts. About 31% of the stations examined in Puerto Rico had evidence of human derived fecal contamination. Human fecal pollution was detected in only one station from Trinidad. Bovine derived contamination was detected only once.

Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Volume Number

60

Issue Number

7

First Page

1117

Last Page

1121

Comments

© 2010.

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.04.020

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