The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediments collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2013, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected from April through October 2013 by USGS, USFWS, and/or EPA personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Duluth, Minnesota; Kewaunee, Wisconsin; Appleton, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; St Clair, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wanakena, New York; and Potsdam, New York (see "2013 Site List"). During this study, 93 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 3 field blank water samples, and 3 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 49 environmental samples, 4 field replicate sample pairs, and two laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediment were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, for a broad suite of CECs. The Field and Laboratory Quality Assurance provides seven tables that support the analytical results for wastewater compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and bisphenol A, and pharmaceuticals in water and wastewater compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and bisphenol A, pharmaceuticals, and antidepressants in bottom-sediment samples collected during 2013.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediments collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2013, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected from April through October 2013 by USGS, USFWS, and/or EPA personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Duluth, Minnesota; Kewaunee, Wisconsin; Appleton, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; St Clair, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wanakena, New York; and Potsdam, New York (see "2013 Site List"). During this study, 93 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 3 field blank water samples, and 3 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 49 environmental samples, 4 field replicate sample pairs, and two laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediment were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, for a broad suite of CECs. The Environmental Data provides 4 tables that describes the analytical results for wastewater compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and bisphenol A, and pharmaceuticals in water and wastewater compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and bisphenol A, pharmaceuticals, and antidepressants in bottom-sediment samples collected during 2013.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediments collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2013, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected from April through October 2013 by USGS, USFWS, and/or EPA personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Duluth, Minnesota; Kewaunee, Wisconsin; Appleton, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; St Clair, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wanakena, New York; and Potsdam, New York (see "2013 Site List"). During this study, 93 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 3 field blank water samples, and 3 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 49 environmental samples, 4 field replicate sample pairs, and two laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediment were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, for a broad suite of CECs.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediments collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2013, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected from April through October 2013 by USGS, USFWS, and/or EPA personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Duluth, Minnesota; Kewaunee, Wisconsin; Appleton, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; St Clair, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Wanakena, New York; and Potsdam, New York (see "2013 Site List"). During this study, 93 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 3 field blank water samples, and 3 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 49 environmental samples, 4 field replicate sample pairs, and two laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediment were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, for a broad suite of CECs.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU), identified the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2014 at 65 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2014 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2014, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected during the periods of April to May and August to September by USGS, USFWS, and (or) SCSU personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Wanakena, New York. During this study, 204 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 6 field blank water samples, and 4 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 21 environmental samples, 3 field replicate sample pairs, and 2 laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediments were collected or prepared. At 22 select water-quality sites, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed in water and analyzed for a similar suite of CECs as were measured in water and bottom-sediment samples. A total of 22 environmental samples, 4 field-blank samples (exposed to ambient air), and 4 field replicate sample pairs were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were prepared and analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado. All POCIS samples were extracted at the Environmental Sampling Technologies Laboratory in St. Joseph, Missouri. Extracts were sent to NWQL where final preparation steps and analyses were completed.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU), identified the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2014 at 65 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2014 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2014, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected during the periods of April to May and August to September by USGS, USFWS, and (or) SCSU personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Wanakena, New York. During this study, 204 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 6 field blank-water samples, and 4 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 21 environmental samples, 3 field replicate sample pairs, and 2 laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediments were collected or prepared. At 22 select water-quality sites, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed in water and analyzed for a similar suite of CECs as were measured in water and bottom-sediment samples. A total of 22 environmental samples, 4 field-blank samples (exposed to ambient air), and 4 field replicate sample pairs were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were prepared and analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado. All POCIS samples were extracted at the Environmental Sampling Technologies Laboratory in St. Joseph, Missouri. Extracts were sent to NWQL where final preparation steps and analyses were completed. The Field and Laboratory Quality Assurance provides eight tables that support the analytical results for wastewater compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and bisphenol A, and pharmaceuticals in water, sediment, and POCIS samples collected during 2014.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU), identified the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2014 at 65 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2014 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are collection methods, references to or descriptions of analytical methods used, data for samples collected in 2014, and associated quality-assurance data. Samples were collected during the periods of April to May and August to September by USGS, USFWS, and (or) SCSU personnel. Study sites include tributaries to the Great Lakes located near Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Wanakena, New York. During this study, 204 environmental samples and 6 field replicate sample pairs of surface water, 6 field blank-water samples, and 4 laboratory-matrix spike water samples were collected or prepared. Additionally, 21 environmental samples, 3 field replicate sample pairs, and 2 laboratory-matrix spike samples of bottom sediments were collected or prepared. At 22 select water-quality sites, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed in surface waters and analyzed for a similar suite of CECs as were measured in water and bottom-sediment samples. A total of 22 environmental samples, 4 field-blank samples (exposed to ambient air), and 4 field replicate sample pairs were collected or prepared. Water and bottom-sediment samples were prepared and analyzed at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado. All POCIS samples were extracted at the Environmental Sampling Technologies Laboratory in St. Joseph, Missouri. Extracts were sent to NWQL where final preparation steps and analyses were completed.

This data release includes concentrations of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), by chemical class, for sites sampled within 25 river basins in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes basin and associated watershed characteristics. The CEC data include concentrations in surface water and sediment samples that were collected during 2010-2014. During the first 3 years, sample sites near mostly urban areas were chosen. The last two years of study focused on other point sources and few nominal reference sites. Water and sediment samples were analyzed for a diverse suite of CECs including, but not limited to, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, flame retardants, pesticides, fragrances, and plasticizers. Statistical models were developed to define the relationships between watershed characteristics within a river basin and the occurrence of specific CEC classes using boosted regression tree models.

The occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) and potential effects to aquatic biota in select tributaries of the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin were measured. In 2011, treated wastewater effluent samples were collected from 22 sites in the St. Croix River Basin to determine total estrogenic activity. In 2012, wastewater effluent was collected at five select locations based on total estrogenicity and analyzed for CECs. In addition, surface water, bottom sediment, resident fish, and resident crayfish were collected upstream and downstream from effluent discharges. Water samples were analyzed for CECs (wastewater indicator compounds, steroid hormones, sterols, and pharmaceuticals). Bottom sediment samples were analyzed for a subset of CECs (wastewater indicator compounds, steroid hormones, and sterols). Fish and crayfish tissues were analyzed for select pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial compounds, plastic components, and alkylphenols. Multiple biological endpoints were assessed in resident and caged fish to assess biological effects of exposure to CECs.

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).