Sterols Interpretation Guide |
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Human/Animal faecal indicative |
Faecal 1
coprostanol/
cholestanol
Faecal 2
24ethylcoprostanol/
24-ethylcholestanol |
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Human Indicative ratios |
Human 1
% coprostanol
Human 2
coprostanol/
(coprostanol+
cholestanol)
Human 3
coprostanol/
24-ethylcoprostanol
Human 4
coprostanol/
(coprostanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol)
Human 5
coprostanol/
epicoprostanol |
 |
Herbivore 1
% 24-ethylcoprostanol
Herbivore 2
coprostanol/
coprostanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol
Herbivore 3
24-ethylcholesterol/
24-ethylcoprostanol
Avian 1
24-ethylcholestanol/
(24-ethylcholestanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol+24-ethylepicoprostanol)
Avian 2
cholestanol/
(cholestanol
+coprostanol+epicoprostanol) |
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Example of three different waterways and the results generated by faecal source tracking (FST) toolbox.
The following pages contain FST information on three waterways which contain faecal pollution. The characteristics of the three sites are presented below:
Site A: Urban stream system under high flow conditions: indicative of wildfowl and dog faecal contamination.
Site B: Urban stream system: strongly indicative of human faecal contamination, also dog and wildfowl contamination.
Site C: Rural river system flowing through agricultural area: indicative of wildfowl and ruminant contamination, e.g. cows and sheep. Initially data is presented relating to the faecal sterol analysis of the waterways (Figure 1). Interpretation of these visual aids will require reference to the above interpretation key on faecal sterols. Data on microbial enumeration and PCR markers is presented in Figure 2, followed by information on the Fluorescent Whitening Agents in Figure 3 |
Faecal SterolsFigure 1: Ratios of faecal sterols detected in three different river systems. Refer to template key (Table 1) for guidelines on understanding ratio analysis. |
| |
Human/Animal faecal indicative |
Faecal 1
coprostanol/
cholestanol
Faecal 2
24ethylcoprostanol/
24-ethylcholestanol |
 |
| |
Human Indicative ratios |
Human 1
% coprostanol
Human 2
coprostanol/
(coprostanol+
cholestanol)
Human 3
coprostanol/
24-ethylcoprostanol
Human 4
coprostanol/
(coprostanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol)
Human 5
coprostanol/
epicoprostanol |
 |
Herbivore 1
% 24-ethylcoprostanol
Herbivore 2
coprostanol/
coprostanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol
Herbivore 3
24-ethylcholesterol/
24-ethylcoprostanol
Avian 1
24-ethylcholestanol/
(24-ethylcholestanol+
24-ethylcoprostanol+24-ethylepicoprostanol)
Avian 2
cholestanol/
(cholestanol
+coprostanol+epicoprostanol) |
 |
Example of three different waterways and the results generated by faecal source tracking (FST) toolbox.
Site A: Urban stream system under high flow conditions: indicative of wildfowl and dog faecal contamination.
Site B: Urban stream system: strongly indicative of human faecal contamination, also dog and wildfowl contamination.
Site C: Rural river system flowing through agricultural area: indicative of wildfowl and ruminant contamination, e.g cows and sheep. |
Figure 2: Levels of cultured E. coli (cfu/100 ml) and PCR based markers (copy number) detected in three different river systems. The further to the right that the point is detected, the higher the level of each marker. |
Cultured E. coli
(cfu/100ml)
PCR E. coli
(copy no.)
PCR - General Faecal
PCR - Human
PCR - Wildfowl
PCR - Dog
PCR - ruminant
|
 |
Example of three different waterways and the results generated by faecal source tracking (FST) toolbox
Site A: Urban stream system under high flow conditions: indicative of wildfowl and dog faecal contamination.
Site B: Urban stream system: strongly indicative of human faecal contamination, also dog and wildfowl contamination.
Site C: Rural river system flowing through agricultural area: indicative of wildfowl and ruminant contamination, e.g cows and sheep. |
Figure 3: Levels of Fluorescent Whitening agents (FWAs) detected in three different river systems. The further to the right that the point is detected, the higher the level of FWA. The pink shaded area indicates FWA levels indicative of human faecal input. |
FWAs (ppb) |
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