Environmental Impact of UV Filters in Aquatic Ecosystems
Summary
Ultraviolet (UV) filters, widely employed in sunscreens and personal care products, are routinely introduced into freshwater and marine environments through recreational activities, wastewater effluent and urban runoff. Many organic UV filters exhibit persistence or pseudo-persistence, leading to detectable concentrations in surface waters, sediments and biota. Once released, these compounds may bioaccumulate in invertebrates and fish, interfere with endocrine systems and promote coral bleaching by triggering viral activation in symbiotic algae. Effects on primary producers, such as diatoms and microalgae, can alter nutrient cycles and food-web dynamics. The global proliferation of coastal tourism and inadequate treatment of emerging contaminants underscore the need for comprehensive monitoring, risk assessment and the development of safer photoprotective agents to safeguard aquatic ecosystem health and biodiversity.
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Environmental Impact of UV Filters in Aquatic Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in environmental impact of uv filters in aquatic ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
UV filters: Chemical substances in sunscreens that absorb or reflect ultraviolet radiation to prevent skin damage.
Bioaccumulation factor (BAF): Ratio of a substance’s concentration in an organism to its concentration in the surrounding environment, indicating potential for uptake over time.
Sediment-water partition coefficient (Kd): Ratio describing the distribution of a compound between sediment and water phases, reflecting adsorption tendencies.
Endocrine disruption: Interference of chemical agents with the normal function of hormonal systems, potentially affecting growth, reproduction and development.
Ecotoxicology: Scientific discipline evaluating the harmful effects of chemical contaminants on aquatic organisms, populations and ecosystems.
Photostability: Ability of a compound to resist chemical degradation when exposed to light, influencing its environmental persistence and efficacy.
References
- Sunscreen Products as Emerging Pollutants to Coastal Waters. PLOS ONE (2013).
- Recent Advances on Endocrine Disrupting Effects of UV Filters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2016).
- Sunscreens Cause Coral Bleaching by Promoting Viral Infections. Environmental Health Perspectives (2008).
- Acute Toxicity and Ecological Risk Assessment of Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and Benzophenone-4 (BP-4) in Ultraviolet (UV)-Filters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2017).
- Personal care products reconnaissance in EVROTAS river (Greece): Water-sediment partition and bioaccumulation in fish. The Science of The Total Environment (2018).
- UV Filters: Challenges and Prospects. Pharmaceuticals (2022).
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