Water and sediment was collected to assess the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in National Park waters of the northern Colorado Plateau, USA. CEC presence in water and sediment is reported for 21 sites in eight U.S. national parks in the northern Colorado Plateau region. From 2012 to 2016, at least one PPCP and/or WWI was detected at most sites on over half of sampling visits, indicating that CECs are not uncommon even in isolated areas. Maximum concentrations in this study were generally below available water quality benchmarks, sediment quality guidelines, and concentrations known to induce biological activity in vitro. C occurrence patterns and similarities between continuous and isolated flow locations suggest that direct contamination from individual visitors may also occur. While the data indicate there is little aquatic health risk associated with CECs at our sites, results demonstrate the ubiquity of CECs on the landscape and a continued need for public outreach concerning resource-use ethics and the potential effects of upstream development.

This dataset is associated with the following publication: Weissinger, R., B. Blackwell, K. Keteles, W. Battaglin, and P. Bradley. Bioactive contaminants of emerging concern in national park waters of the northern Colorado plateau, USA. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 636: 910-918, (2018).