Site information and compound concentrations for 15 Iowa streams, 2021

Microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and pesticides cause unintentional environmental contamination through many pathways in multiple matrices. This statewide, multi-matrix study examined multiple contaminants of global concern (CGCs) in water, bed sediment, and fish to understand their occurrence in small streams located in regions of intense agriculture activity across Iowa (United States). Fifteen sites were sampled across a range of predominant land uses (e.g., poultry, swine); all sites had detections of microplastics in all matrices. PFAS concentrations varied but were detected in water and sediment; all fish had detections of Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). ARGs were detected in more than 50 percent of water and bed sediment samples and metformin was the most frequently detected PPCP.