Marine Pollution Bulletin
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Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
a b s t r a c t
In Stone Town, Zanzibar, sewage treatment is minimal, with a biological oxygen demand reduction to 60%
and no removal of bacteria or nutrients. Here, Stone Town’s sewage pollution was studied by measuring
Enterococci and NHþ4
concentrations in seawater and d15N of benthic organisms; samples were collected
along the Stone Town shoreline and from offshore coral reefs. Public perceptions of sewage pollution
were investigated via interviews. Enterococci from the Stone Town shoreline exceeded USEPA guidelines
for recreational use. Benthic organisms from two of the four reefs were relatively enriched (d15N > 10‰),
indicative of sewage derived N. d15N values of organisms from Stone Town exceeded 16‰. A strong correlation
was found between Enterococci and d15N across sites, while step-wise regression indicated rainfall
and tidal stage as important predictors for bacterial concentrations. These data provide an important
impact assessment from which the efficacy of future policy and management change can be assessed.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Description
Keywords
Coral, Sewage pollution, Enterococcus, Zanzibar, Human health
Citation
Moynihan, M.A., Baker, D.M. and Mmochi, A.J., 2012. Isotopic and microbial indicators of sewage pollution from Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Marine pollution bulletin, 64(7), pp.1348-1355.