Death of fish due to surface water pollution by liquid manure or untreated wastewater: analytical preservation of evidence by HPLC

A HPLC method was developed to investigate and clear up death of fish populations due to surface water pollution with liquid manure or untreated municipal wastewater. The method is based on the determination of four characteristic manure components (phenol, 4-methylphenol, indole and 3-methylindole) by means of fluorescence detection. The detection limits of these substances are below the μg L−1 range. Water samples can be examined without any pretreatment. The examination of contaminated fish requires a special sample pretreatment. The manure components are extracted from the carefully cut out fish skin by a solution of acetonitrile, acetic acid and water.