Title:
Improving Fluorometry as a Source Tracking Method to Detect Human Fecal Contamination in Georgia Waters
Improving Fluorometry as a Source Tracking Method to Detect Human Fecal Contamination in Georgia Waters
Authors
Hartel, Peter G.
McDonald, Jennifer L.
Gentit, Lisa C.
Rodgers, Karen
Belcher, Carolyn N.
McDonald, Jennifer L.
Gentit, Lisa C.
Rodgers, Karen
Belcher, Carolyn N.
Authors
Advisors
Advisors
Associated Organizations
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
Series
Collections
Supplementary to
Permanent Link
Abstract
In a continuing effort to develop inexpensive source tracking methods to detect human fecal contamination in environmental waters, we combined targeted sampling with fluorometry. Targeted sampling works by identifying hotspots of fecal contamination through multiple samplings over ever decreasing distances. Fluorometry identifies human fecal contamination by detecting optical brighteners, primarily from laundry detergents. On St. Simons Island, targeted sampling and fluorometry identified two hotspots of fecal contamination. One hotspot was confirmed as fecal contamination from humans, but the other was not, most likely because of background organic matter fluorescence. Adding a 436-nm emission filter to the fluorometer reduced this background fluorescence by >50%, and with this filter in place, the second hotspot was identified as fecal contamination from birds. As long as a fluorometer is equipped with a 436-nm emission filter, targeted sampling combined with fluorometry may be a relatively inexpensive method to identify human fecal contamination in water.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date Issued
2007-03
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings