Sterols as biomarkers in the surface microlayer of the estuarine areas

Murad Ali Alsalahi; Mohd Talib Latif; Masni Mohd Ali; Doreena Dominick; Md Firoz Khan; Nur Ili Hamizah Mustaffa; Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir; Essam Nasher; Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.01.011

Sterols as biomarkers in the surface microlayer of the estuarine areas

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Apr 15;93(1-2):278-83. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.01.011. Epub 2015 Feb 11.

Authors

Murad Ali Alsalahi¹, Mohd Talib Latif², Masni Mohd Ali³, Doreena Dominick⁴, Md Firoz Khan⁵, Nur Ili Hamizah Mustaffa³, Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir⁵, Essam Nasher¹, Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Marine Chemistry and Pollution, Faculty of Marine Science and Environment, Hodeidah University, Yemen.
² School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Institute for Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: talib@ukm.my.
³ School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Institute for Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁵ School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Institute for Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁶ Environmental Forensics Research Centre (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

PMID: 25682566
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.01.011

Abstract

This study aims to determine the concentration of sterols used as biomarkers in the surface microlayer (SML) in estuarine areas of the Selangor River, Malaysia. Samples were collected during different seasons through the use of a rotation drum. The analysis of sterols was performed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). The results showed that the concentrations of total sterols in the SML ranged from 107.06 to 505.55 ng L(-1). The total sterol concentration was found to be higher in the wet season. Cholesterol was found to be the most abundant sterols component in the SML. The diagnostic ratios of sterols show the influence of natural sources and waste on the contribution of sterols in the SML. Further analysis, using principal component analysis (PCA), showed distinct inputs of sterols derived from human activity (40.58%), terrigenous and plant inputs (22.59%) as well as phytoplankton and marine inputs (17.35%).

Keywords: Diagnostic ratio; Organic compounds; Principal component analysis; Selangor River.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomarkers / analysis
Chromatography, Gas
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Estuaries*
Humans
Malaysia
Rivers / chemistry*
Seasons
Sterols / analysis*

Substances

Biomarkers
Sterols