Data on the profile of organic contaminants in the L'Albufera Natural Park (2019-2020). Target and non-target screening.

This article presents a dataset on 71 pesticide levels and the identification of additional synthetic organic chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, in L'Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain). Sampling was conducted during May-June (spring) and end of September-October (autumn) 2019, timed to the rice cultivation cycle, the region's main agricultural activity. A total of 130 samples (100 water and 30 sediments) were collected from 51 strategically selected sites, including rivers, irrigation channels, Albufera Lake, and Mediterranean outlets, utilizing a combination of targeted and non-targeted screening (NTS) methods.

Fingerprinting of emerging contaminants in L'Albufera natural park (Valencia, Spain): Implications for wetland ecosystem health.

Wetlands are crucial ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. L'Albufera Natural Park, the second-largest coastal wetland in Spain, faces significant pressures from surrounding agricultural lands, industrial activities, human settlements, and associated infrastructures, including treated wastewater inputs. This study aimed at (i) establishing pathways of emerging pollutants entering the natural wetland using both target and non-target screening (NTS) for management purposes, (ii) distinguishing specific contamination hotspots through Geographic Information System (GIS) and (iii) performing basic ecological risk assessment to evaluate ecosystem health.