Alkaline Phosphatase Activity as Indicator of Fecal Contamination of Mumbai Coastal Water

Abstract

Mumbai coast is facing adverse impact of sewage discharge up to 5km from the shore. Microbiological quality of Mumbai coastal water was estimated by determination of faecal coliforms [FC], which is the standard used for assessment of level of fecal pollution of marine water. Determination of levels of faecal pollution of the coastal ecosystem can also be carried out by assessment of microbial metabolic activities in terms of alkaline phosphatase [APase] activity. High organic matter- allochthonous or autochthonous, or contaminants i.e. hydrocarbons support viability of bacterial and stimulates synthesis of enzymes to degrade new organic compounds. However AP activity is not only affected by various variables like pH, buffer ions, metal ion content, incubation time etc. but is also negatively correlated with availability of phosphates. Correlation between FC count and AP activity was studied to check use of AP activity as marker of ecological quality.