Exposure and potential effects of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in protected streams of the US National park Service southeast region.

•Designed-bioactive contaminants assessed in 5 southeast US NPS-protected streams.•334 unique pesticides and pharmaceuticals were assessed in water; 24% were detected.•119 sediment pesticides assessed; 5 detected consistently but only in one stream.•Common exceedances of effects-screening threshold raise sub-lethal effects concerns.•Importance of up-gradient external sources suggest increased community engagement.