Occurrence, Distribution and Risk Assessment of Organic UV Filters in the Marine Environment

Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are important ingredients in personal care products such as sunscreens, cosmetic make-up and lip care products to protect human skin against sunburn by absorbing UV radiation. They can enter the aquatic environment through recreational activities and wastewater discharge. The increasing incorporation of organic UV filters into products has raised concern about their potential ecological impacts. Some organic UV filters are lipophilic, and have the potential to bioaccumulate via food chains. Moreover, these chemicals have been reported as environmental estrogens that could cause reproductive disruption. Recent studies indicated that exposure of UV filters could induce viral infections and thus result in coral bleaching. However, information about the occurrence, distribution and potential risks of these compounds in the marine environment is inadequate. Our research team has conducted a series of studies to examine the contamination status of organic UV filters in the marine environment including seawater, sediment and tissues of marine organisms in order to assess the potential environmental risks that might be posed by these compounds.