• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.827-833
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• 2011

In this study, fecal nonpoint pollutant sources tracking were conducted on Ansan stream. Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Analysis (MARA) method used in this study is based on the premise that fecal bacteria derived from intestine of human or animal has each different resistance for antibiotics. First of all, a database for known sources should be established to use the method and then, an unknown sample was applied on the database to find unknown sources by statistical analysis. The Ansan stream was considered with divided condition into three parts: upper (livestock farming area), mid (old section of the city), and downstream (new section of the city) to search an environmental influence of the stream basin. As results of the statistical analysis, it could be estimated that the upper stream area was influenced by animals due to the nature of influence for the livestock farms located in this area because livestock were classified as percentages of 45.8% in 3-way method divided into livestock, pet and human. In case of midstream and downstream, the human influence was remarkable as percentage of 60% and 80%, respectively. From these results, it could be judged that the MARA method is useful in source tracking the non-point pollutant sources because the MARA results correspond to which predictable non-point pollutant sources by a field study. Also, it is expected that a more effective source tracking will be possible as establishing database of each area.