ANEXO I: This readme.txt file was generated on 2024-04-17 by Saul Vallejos Calzada GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Title of dataset: Proyecto de Ciencia Ciudadana del Grupo de Polímeros de la Universidad de Burgos. Análisis de Nitratos en Agua de Consumo de Diferentes Municipios de la Provincia de Burgos. 2. Autorship Name: Saul Vallejos Calzada Institution: Departamento de Química. Universidad de Burgos Email: svallejos@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5522-6574 Name: Miriam Trigo Lopez Institution: Departamento de Química. Universidad de Burgos Email: mtrigo@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5948-1230 Name: Alvaro Miguel Ortega Institution: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Email: alvaro.miguel@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3981-5699 Name: Carlos Sedano Labrador Institution: Universidad de Burgos Email: cslabrador@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9556-9667 Name: Cintia Virumbrales Ortiz Institution: Universidad de Burgos Email: cvirumbrales@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0211-8988 Name: Raquel Hernández Ruiz Institution: Universidad de Burgos Email: rhruiz@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5018-0845 Name: Ana Arnaiz Alonso Institution: Departamento de Química. Universidad de Burgos Email: anaaa@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3842-498X Name: Marta Guembe García Institution: Departamento de Química. Universidad de Burgos Email: mguembe@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2483-2576 Name: Alba Torija López Institution: Departamento de Química. Universidad de Burgos Email: atorija@ubu.es ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7255-0876 DESCRIPTION ----------- 1. Dataset language Spanish 2. Abstract: From late January to mid-April 2024, the Polymer Group at the University of Burgos conducted a citizen science initiative as part of the project "SMART POLYMERS: APPLICATION IN FOOD AND BIOMEDICAL SAFETY AND CONTROL, SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION, AND BIOREMEDIATION" (Reference BU025P23), funded through the grant call of the applied science research projects support program of the Junta de Castilla y León. This initiative involved active participation of citizens in the research process, focusing primarily on sampling. Interested citizens contributed by sending water samples from both their household taps and public sources, springs, wells, and rivers. In total, 146 tap water samples from various towns/cities, 83 fountain samples, and 30 samples from other sources have been analyzed. 3. Keywords: Nitrate levels; Citizen science; Water quality; Polymer applications; Environmental monitoring 4. Date of data collection Jan 2024-Apr 2024 5. Date of dataset publication 2024-04-17 6. Funding We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by all funders. The financial support provided by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-European Regional Development Fund (FEDER, ERDF) and Regional Government of Castilla y León -Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León- (BU025P23) is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Junta de Castilla y León) and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation MICIN and the European Union NextGenerationEU PRTR. Author Saul Vallejos received grant BG22/00086 funded by Spanish Ministerio de Universidades. We also appreciate the funding provided by grant TED2021-129419B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the "European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR." 7. Geographic location/s of data collection Province of Burgos and its Surroundings (Spain) ACCESS INFORMATION ------------------ 1. Dataset Creative Commons License: This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 2. Dataset DOI: 10.36443/10259/8959 3. Related publication Does not apply METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- Procedure for Sampling and Sample Submission The sampling procedure was conducted by citizens following the protocol outlined below. Each sample was collected in a plastic bottle previously rinsed with the water to be analyzed. It is important to emphasize that the samples had to be free of sediments and other contaminants, and the bottles could not contain any residue. Samples that did not meet these minimum requirements were not included in the study. Subsequently, citizens delivered the samples to the reception desk of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Burgos, each identified with the name of the originating town and the type of sample (tap, fountain, etc.). Nitrate Content Analysis. Part 1: Qualitative Analysis Due to the wide variability in nitrate concentrations among the samples, an initial qualitative analysis was carried out using MQuant® Nitrate Test Strips from Supelco®. This first qualitative analysis allowed us to determine whether the samples could be directly analyzed, as detailed in the following section, or if dilution was required due to a high nitrate concentration. Nitrate Content Analysis. Part 2: Quantitative Analysis To perform the quantitative analysis, we utilized the ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry technique, following the method published in the book "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" (ISBN: 9780875532875). This method is specifically designed for nitrate analysis in treated water, although it can be applied to untreated water provided it is clean and does not exhibit significant absorbance at 275 nm. It is important to note that the nitrate concentration may be affected by the presence of carbonates (lime) in the sample, so all samples were treated with hydrochloric acid to eliminate carbonate anion interference, following the aforementioned method. Each received sample was analyzed in triplicate, and the published results reflect the nitrate concentration in mg/L, as well as the associated standard error of the measurement. Communication of Results Once the assays were completed, the results were sent via email to the volunteer individuals who submitted the samples, as well as to the respective municipalities, always maintaining the anonymity of the volunteer. FILE OVERVIEW -------------- 02-Results.osd Short description: Each file is a .ods, or .txt file of each study/experiment