The Aurá River located in Northern Brazil, Brazilian Amazon, has been experiencing
anthropogenic input from riverine communities and the Aurá landfill for many years. In this
work, we assess the occurrence, sources, and distribution of six sterol markers in surface
sediments of Aurá River to evaluate organic inputs in this water body. Gas chromatographytandem
mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) was used to determine sterol compounds. The sterol
markers identified, diagnostic ratios, and statistical analysis showed that Aurá River sediments
presented two primary sterol sources: anthropogenic (domestic sewage and inputs from Aurá
landfill) and natural sources (terrestrial higher plants). Station 1 (the closest site to the Aurá
landfill) presented the highest level of contamination. Coprostanol concentrations at this
station was 219.8 ng g-1.This coprostanol range indicates moderate human fecal
contamination. This work demonstrated that domestic sewage pollution from riverine
communities and organic matter inputs from Aurá landfill might be assumed as potential
threats to environmental and human health.
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