The origin of faeces by means of biomarker detection.

摘要: One of the defining characteristics a biomarker is retention, during diagenesis, structural indicative its original biogenic source (Peters and Moldowan, 1993). Since 1960s an increasing interest has developed in use environmental compounds to monitor levels human animal waste introduced marine terrestrial environments; relative stability these enabling both spatial long-term temporal studies be realized (e.g., Walker et al., 1982; Vivian, 1986; Evershed Bethell, 1996 references therein). The specificity particular biomarkers for different faecal sources makes their particularly attractive especially circumstances where deducing origin sewage constituting pollution event crucial. Research into organicmatter environments over last 20 years led development two main groups organic found matter that can used sewage, namely: 5b-stanols bile acids. This communication provides overview researchers not necessarily familiar with molecular methods monitoring. compound classes will considered separately, then integration future discussed.