Molecular markers for identifying municipal, domestic and agricultural sources of organic matter in natural waters.
Molecular markers can be used to determine the sources of organic pollution in water. This review summarizes progress made during the last two decades in identifying reliable molecular markers to distinguish pollution from sewage, animal production, and other sources. Two artificial sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame-K, are sufficiently stable to be molecular markers and easily associated with domestic wastewater. Waste from different animal species may be distinguished by profiling fecal sterols and bile acids. Other markers which have been evaluated, including caffeine, detergent components, and compounds commonly leached from landfills are discussed.
['Harwood|John J|JJ|']
D000383:Agriculture D001647:Bile Acids and Salts D002947:Cities D004784:Environmental Monitoring D005243:Feces D012722:Sewage D013261:Sterols D013549:Sweetening Agents D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Molecular markers Sweeteners Fecal sterols Bile acids DOC Water pollution