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We studied the effect of chronic oxybenzone exposure and elevated temperature on coral health. Microcolonies of Stylophora pistillata and Acropora tenuis were cultured in 20 flow-through aquaria, of which 10 were exposed to oxybenzone at a field-relevant concentration of ~0.06 μg L−1 at 26 °C. After two weeks, half of the corals experienced a heat wave culminating at 33 °C. All S. pistillata colonies survived the heat wave, although heat reduced growth and zooxanthellae density, irrespective of oxybenzone. A. tenuis survival was reduced to 0% at 32 °C, and oxybenzone accelerated mortality. Oxybenzone and heat significantly reduced photosynthetic yield in both species, causing a 5% and 22−33% decrease, respectively. In addition, combined oxybenzone and temperature stress altered the abundance of five bacterial families in the microbiome of S. pistillata. Our results suggest that oxybenzone adds insult to injury by further weakening corals in the face of global warming.Highlights➢Chronic effect study on corals combining oxybenzone and elevated temperature➢Oxybenzone affected photosystem II of coral photosymbionts and altered coral microbiome➢Temperature effects were stronger than oxybenzone effects➢Sensitivities were species-dependent➢Oxybenzone adds insult to injury by weakening corals in the face of global warming

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are present in a broad range of personal hygiene products, which may be transported via aquatic environments and domestic wastewaters due to inefficient treating station sewage removal and direct human contact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of a UV filter, in particular benzophenone-3 (BP3) (also known as oxybenzone) on the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels were exposed to this organic substance for 96 h in environmentally relevant concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 ng/L). After exposure, biomarkers related with the mussels&rsquo, metabolism and oxidative stress were evaluated. The results revealed significantly higher activity of electron transport system and energy reserves (glycogen and protein (PROT)) at the intermediate concentration of 100 ng/L, suggesting that at lower concentrations mussels&rsquo, metabolism was not activated due to low stress. Conversely, at the highest concentration (1000 ng/L), mussels were no longer able to continue to increase their metabolic activity. Higher metabolic capacity was accompanied by increased PROT content associated with increased enzyme production to activate their antioxidant system. Nevertheless, at the highest concentration, cellular damage occurred as a consequence of ineffective activation of antioxidant and biotransformation enzymes. The results of the present study address uncertainties that are fundamental to the environmental risk assessment and management of these economically important near-shore bivalves and other marine species. Although an acute exposure was performed, alterations observed indicate the negative impacts of BP3 towards marine bivalves, which could be enhanced after longer exposure periods or if mussels are simultaneously exposed to other stressors (e.g., other pollutants or climate change related factors). The present study may thus contribute to the definition of fundamental knowledge for the establishment of appropriate regulatory guidelines and practices that ensure the preservation and sustainability of biological resources, allowing for prediction and mitigation of the impacts from these compounds.

The use of sunscreen is a way to protect the skin from the danger of UV exposure. Nowadays, there are a lot of sunscreens based on chemical (synthetic organic) on the market, such as ovobenzone, oxybenzone, otisalate which have proved as toxic chemicals for the skin. The researches related to the use of natural ingredients as active agent for sunscreen are continuously increasing, one of them is the microalgae. Microalgae Spirulina plantesis is cyanobateria which has naturally absorbed UV compounds in its cells, namely flavonoid. Flavonoid has the potential to be used as active sunscreen's ingredient because of its ability to absorb maximum wavelength in the range of UV rays, as well as increase the SPF value. In this research, flavonoid is varied in the range of 1-10% w/w and the ratio of olive oil:candelilla wax were varied, which were 10:1 and 5:1 with the composition's range of wax is 35-40% w/w to obtain both optimal cream stability and SPF values from sunscreen cream preparations. The results show that the total flavonoid compound in the dried and fresh basis sample of microalgae were 22.10 mg/g extract and 10.91 mg/g extract respectively. The best composition of sunscreen on this research was sunscreen with 7% (w/w) microalgae extract and the ratio between olive oil : candelilla wax was 35:7, because this formulation gives good SPF value (29.06) which is categorized as ultra-SPF and has the good stability score (17.33 from 20). Therefore, the sunscreen from microalgae extract which contains flavonoid are safe to use, because the total microbes were still below the required total microbial of SNI and did not irritate the skin.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are an emerging concern because of the large amount of PPCPs that is discharged and its potential ecological effects on the aquatic environment. Chlorination has proven efficient for removing some aromatic PPCPs from wastewater, but the formation of by-products has not been thoroughly investigated partly because of analytical difficulties. This study developed a method for systematically screening and identifying the transformation products (TPs) of multiple aromatic PPCPs through high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). We spiked an environmentally relevant concentration (5000 ng/L) of three anti-inflammatory drugs, four parabens, bisphenol A, oxybenzone, and triclosan in the Milli-Q water and water containing natural organic matter (NOM). Low-dose chlorination (0.2–0.7 mg/L) was performed. We compared the chemical profiles of the chlorinated and untreated water and selected the ions to be identified based on the results of t-test and the ratio of signal intensities. Compound matching and isotopic pattern comparison were applied to characterising the molecular formulae of TPs. The fragmentation of the PPCPs and TPs was used in elucidating the structures of the TPs. The confirmation of TPs was achieved by comparing the retention time and fragment patterns of TPs with the isomer standards. In the chlorinated water, the aromatic PPCPs were substantially removed, except for the anti-inflammatory drugs (removal rates −5.2%–26%). Even with moderate chlorine dosages, all of the aromatic PPCPs, except for acetylsalicylic acid, were transformed into chlorinated derivatives in the Milli-Q water, and so were some PPCPs in the NOM-added water. The results of structure elucidation and compound confirmation as well as the increases in log Kow suggested that chlorination could transform aromatic PPCPs into more persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic TPs. The presence of these TPs in the effluents where the PPCPs are removed through chlorination may pose increased risks to aquatic organisms.

The widespread occurrence of UV filters such as oxybenzone (OXY) in the aquatic ecosystems has raised social and scientific concern due to their high bioaccumulation potential and possible adverse effects in organisms. Within this context, the aim of the present work was to study the uptake, distribution, metabolization and elimination of OXY in different tissues (liver, gill and muscle) and biofluids (bile and plasma) of gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) in a controlled seawater ecosystem (50 ng/mL OXY) within a 14-day exposure. The highest OXY concentrations in all the tissue/biofluids were found at the end of the experiment. The highest OXY levels were found in bile (1.8–17 μg/mL). In the case of liver, the concentrations found (9–160 ng/g) were lower than those expected for a lipidic matrix, which could be explained by a high OXY metabolization. Up to 20 Phase I and Phase II by-products of OXY were annotated by means of liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry, of which 12 were reported for the first time. In addition to OXY, its by-products might also cause adverse effects and their biomonitoring is advisable in order to fully characterize OXY exposure.

Sunscreens are regulated as over-the-counter drugs in the United States. Some sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the systemic circulation, which raises concerns about the safety of these drugs. There is limited information on the systemic exposure for most sunscreen ingredients. This report estimates the systemic absorption of two sunscreen active ingredients, oxybenzone and enzacamene, by developing a pharmacokinetic model from published sunscreen absorption data and compares the results with safety thresholds proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration and in the literature. Our analysis indicates that systemic absorption can be substantial, and evaluation of the systemic exposure of sunscreen ingredients is warranted to better assess any long-term risks of use.

The journal of physical chemistry letters 9(17), 4963 - 4968 (2018). doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b02029, New insights into the structural intricacies of solvated sunscreen compounds are presented. Using high-resolution rotational spectroscopy with supersonic jets and quantum-chemistry calculations, we navigate the conformational space of oxybenzone and oxybenzone–water clusters. We unambiguously assign the global minimum structure, resolving any prevailing ambiguities, and locate the primary hydration sites of the ground-state enol conformer. Two microsolvated molecular models of oxybenzone are validated by rotational spectroscopy of isotopically enriched species. Theoretical predictions based on these models suggest that water influences the ground-state enol–keto energetic constraints and that its effect is biased depending on which water docking-site is at play., Published by ACS, Washington, DC

Oxybenzone (OBZ), avobenzone (AVB), octocrylene (OCR) and octinoxate (OMC) are ultraviolet (UV) filters commonly added to chemical sunscreens. These UV filters are known to widely contaminate the environment through a variety of anthropogenic sources, including sewage discharge. However, systematic studies of the damage caused by these four UV filters and their toxicopathological differences in a variety of plant species are lacking. In this study, we demonstrated that irrigation with water containing these four UV filters could significantly inhibit the aboveground growth of cucumber plant. All of the UV filters decreased photosynthesis through nonstomatal factors but via different inhibitory mechanisms. Only OBZ inhibited photosynthesis by directly inhibiting photosynthetic electron transport, while the other three (AVB, OCR, and OMC) inhibited photosynthesis by inhibiting the Calvin-Benson cycle. Additionally, these four UV filters also decreased plant respiration under long-term treatment. Photosynthesis and respiration inhibition led to the over production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the formation of lipid peroxidation damage products, which further damaged the structure and function of plant cells, causing secondary pathologies and potentially leading to reduced crop yields. The study also demonstrated that these four UV filters caused different degrees of phototoxic damage to cucumber plants. On the basis of comprehensive evaluation, we speculated that the order of the four UV filters in terms of plant damage was OBZ > AVB > OMC > OCR. Because of the severe damaging effects of these UV filters on plant growth, the application of contaminated biosolids/reclaimed water in agriculture reduces agricultural production and may damage ecosystems. The results of this study can advance recognition of the hazards associated with environmental and agricultural pollution via UV filters and encourage consumers and the industry to limit or reduce the application of cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs containing these substances.

Sunscreen-containing skincare products protect the skin from damage caused by sun exposure. However, many of them contain oxybenzone and/or octinoxate, which have been reported to be toxic to juvenile coral and to cause coral bleaching. Thus, there is a growing need for new sunscreen compounds that are less harmful to the environment. Here, we report an engineered biosynthetic pathway employing genes from a vertebrate and two Gram-(+) bacteria that forms novel sunscreen compounds with hybrid structures of gadusol and mycosporine-like amino acids, both of which are found in marine environments. These compounds, named gadusporines, have unique UV absorbance at 340 nm, expanding the range of mycosporine- and gadusol-based sunscreen products. The synthesis of gadusporines in

Ex vivo mammary explant systems are an excellent model to study interactions between epithelium and stromal cell types because they contain physiologically relevant heterotypic interactions in the background of genetically diverse patients. The intact human mammary tissue, termed patient‐derived explant (PDE), can be used to investigate cellular responses to a wide variety of external stimuli in situ. For this study, we examined the impact of cytokines or environmental chemicals on macrophage phenotypes. We demonstrate that we can polarize macrophages within human breast tissue PDEs toward M1 or M2 through the addition of interferon‐γ (IFNγ) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin (IL)‐4 + IL‐13, respectively. Elevated expression levels of M(IFNγ + LPS) markers (HLADRA and CXCL10) or M(IL‐4 + IL‐13) markers (CD209 and CCL18) were observed in cytokine‐treated tissues. We also examined the impact of the endocrine‐disrupting chemical, benzophenone‐3, on PDEs and measured significant, yet varying effects on macrophage polarization. Furthermore, a subset of the PDEs respond to IL‐4 + IL‐13 through downregulation of E‐cadherin and upregulation of vimentin which is reminiscent of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) changes. Finally, we were able to show immortalized nonmalignant breast epithelial cells can exhibit EMT characteristics when exposed to growth factors secreted by M(IL‐4 + IL‐13) macrophages. Taken together, the PDE model system is an outstanding preclinical model to study early tissue‐resident immune responses and effects on epithelial and stromal responses to stimuli found both endogenously in the breast and exogenously as a result of exposures., The intact human mammary tissue, termed patient‐derived explant (PDE), can be used to investigate cellular responses to a wide variety external stimuli in situ. For this study, we examined the impact of cytokines or environmental chemicals on macrophage phenotypes. We demonstrate that we can polarize macrophages within human breast tissue PDEs toward M1 or M2 and the endocrine‐disrupting chemical, benzophenone‐3, also affects macrophage polarization.

Purification of water contaminated with organics, including pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), via adsorption, was carried out by using porous carbons obtained from the pyrolysis of metal azolate framework-6 (MAF-6, a subclass of metal-organic frameworks), especially in the presence of a KOH activator. The carbons showed high adsorption capacity for a wide range of PPCPs (the acidic ibuprofen; weakly acidic triclosan and oxybenzone; and basic diclofenac sodium and atenolol). The carbon prepared at 1000 °C showed record-high adsorption capacities for ibuprofen and diclofenac. A plausible adsorption mechanism for ibuprofen could also be suggested by adsorption under a wide range of pH conditions. Moreover, the used carbon could be recycled easily by solvent washing. Therefore, MAF-6-derived carbon (especially in the presence of a KOH activator) could be suggested as a potential adsorbent to purify water contaminated with organics such as PPCPs.

Hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are generally thought to have permanent “organizational” effects when exposures occur during development but not adulthood. Yet, an increasing number of studies have shown that pregnant females are disrupted by endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures, with some effects that are permanent. Here, we examined the long-term effects of exposure to oxybenzone, an estrogenic chemical found in sunscreen and personal care products, on the morphology of the mammary gland in mice exposed during pregnancy and lactation. Female mice were exposed to vehicle or 30, 212, or 3000 µg oxybenzone/kg/d, from pregnancy day 0 until weaning. A nulliparous group, receiving vehicle treatment, was also evaluated. Mammary glands were collected 5 weeks after involution for whole-mount, histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses. Exposure to 3000 µg oxybenzone/kg/d induced permanent changes to ductal density that was significantly different from both the nulliparous and vehicle groups. The two highest doses of oxybenzone similarly induced an intermediate phenotype for expression of progesterone receptor. A monotonic, dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation was also observed in the oxybenzone-treated females, becoming statistically significant at the highest dose. Finally, oxybenzone exposure induced an intermediate phenotype for Esr1 expression in all oxybenzone-treated groups. These data suggest that oxybenzone, at doses relevant to human exposures, produces long-lasting alterations to mammary gland morphology and function. Further studies are needed to determine if exposure to this chemical during pregnancy and lactation will interfere with the known protection that pregnancy provides against breast cancer., Exposure to oxybenzone, an estrogen receptor agonist, during pregnancy and lactation had long-lasting effects on morphology and expression of hormone receptors in the mouse mammary gland.

Effect-directed analysis (EDA) is a commonly used approach for effect-based identification of endocrine disruptive chemicals in complex (environmental) mixtures. However, for routine toxicity assessment of, for example, water samples, current EDA approaches are considered time-consuming and laborious. We achieved faster EDA and identification by downscaling of sensitive cell-based hormone reporter gene assays and increasing fractionation resolution to allow testing of smaller fractions with reduced complexity. The high-resolution EDA approach is demonstrated by analysis of four environmental passive sampler extracts. Downscaling of the assays to a 384-well format allowed analysis of 64 fractions in triplicate (or 192 fractions without technical replicates) without affecting sensitivity compared to the standard 96-well format. Through a parallel exposure method, agonistic and antagonistic androgen and estrogen receptor activity could be measured in a single experiment following a single fractionation. From 16 selected candidate compounds, identified through nontargeted analysis, 13 could be confirmed chemically and 10 were found to be biologically active, of which the most potent nonsteroidal estrogens were identified as oxybenzone and piperine. The increased fractionation resolution and the higher throughput that downscaling provides allow for future application in routine high-resolution screening of large numbers of samples in order to accelerate identification of (emerging) endocrine disruptors.

An analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination in fish muscle of two kinds of emerging pollutants: polycyclic aromatic musks (galaxolide and tonalide) and UV filters [oxybenzone, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, padimate-O, 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene], which are very common ingredients of personal care products, by programmable split/splitless injector gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PSSI-GC-MS) using a matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for extraction and clean-up procedure in a single step. The method was evaluated for precision (relative standard deviation 0.9829); accuracy, reported as % of recovery; limit of quantification (0.013 to 0.040 μg g−1, referred to dry mass); and limit of detection (0.004 to 0.012 μg g−1, referred to dry mass) for each of the analytes. The average recoveries in muscle samples spiked at two levels: 0.1 μg g-1 and 1.0 μg g-1 ranged between 77–111% and 55–108%, respectively. The method was applied for the determination of the mentioned pollutants in an exposure in vivo study with rainbow trout, and the results showed a larger absorption of musks (tonalide 43.0 μg g−1) than UV filters (padimate-O, 1.0 μg g−1). The proposed procedure has demonstrated to be able for simultaneous monitoring of these two different kinds of common emerging pollutants coming from personal care products, which would make it a useful tool for quality control and safety studies.

Optically active nanoparticles (NPs) are potential building blocks for bottom-up functional technology in applications such as displays, sensors, and sunscreens. For sunscreens in particular, NPs can be used as delivery systems for organic UV filters in order to minimise skin exposure to these molecules. Here, we investigate the synthesis of size-tunable ethyl cellulose NPs (ECNPs) and their application as carriers for multiple organic UV filters. We prepared ECNPs with sizes of 50 to 165 nm via an antisolvent precipitation technique and investigate the incorporation of three commonplace organic UV filters – oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate – into the ECNPs. We found the particle loading varied greatly with each UV filter. Photodegradation of the UV filters remained unchanged upon incorporation into ECNPs and was not affected by co-encapsulating the antioxidant α-tocopherol. These results can significantly advance the development of environmentally friendly functionalized nanoparticles and UV-protective coatings.

WstępChemiczne filtry przeciwsłoneczne mogą być jedną z przyczyn podrażnienia i/lub zapalenia skóry oraz występowania fotoalergicznej egzemy. Reakcja alergiczna może przejawiać się pieczeniem, świądem, obrzękiem, wysypką i pęcherzami. Celem pracy jest ocena aktualnego poziomu wiedzy mieszkańców Polski z zakresu znajomości składu kosmetyków przeciwsłonecznych oraz wpływu substancji fotoprotekcyjnych na organizm człowieka.Materiał i metodyBadanie zostało przeprowadzone w lutym 2016 r., na reprezentatywnej grupie dorosłych mieszkańców Polski (N = 125) z wykorzystaniem autorskiego kwestionariusza ankiety. Kompleksową analizę statystyczną badanego materiału wykonano za pomocą programu Microsoft Excel 2010.WynikiWykazano, że spośród zapytanych osób prawie 78,4% stosuje kosmetyki przeciwsłoneczne, jednakże na skład kupowanych produktów kosmetycznych zwraca uwagę jedynie 52,8% ankietowanych. Wiedzę na temat niektórych substancji fotoprotekcyjnych wchodzących w skład kosmetyków ochrony przeciwsłonecznej, np. oksybenzonu, ma niespełna 14% badanych. Problemów skórnych wywołanych kosmetykami z filtrem UV doświadczyło aż 12,8%.WnioskiPrzeprowadzone badania wskazują na konieczność dalszej edukacji mieszkańców Polski na temat składu kosmetyków przeciwsłonecznych oraz wpływu substancji fotoprotekcyjnych na organizm człowieka.

The behavior of 10 micropollutants, i.e. four estrogens (estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynylestradiol), carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), triclosan, oxybenzone, 4-nonylphenol, and bisphenol A, was investigated in a typical domestic wastewater treatment plant. LC-MS and yeast estrogen screen bioassay were used to study the changes in micropollutants and estrogenicity across unit processes in the treatment system. Primary treatment via sedimentation showed that only 4-nonylphenol was removed, but led to no significant change in estrogenicity. Secondary treatment by the biological nitrification-dentrification process showed complete removal of oxybenzone and partial removal of the estrogens, which led to a decrease in estrogenic activity from 80 to 48 ng/L as estradiol equivalent (EEq). Ultraviolet treatment completely degraded the estrogens and triclosan, but failed to lower the concentrations of bisphenol A, SMX, and CBZ; a decrease in estrogenic activity from 48 to 5 ng/L EEq across the unit, a value that was only slightly larger than the observed EEq of 1 ng/L for the deionized control. Similarly, the anaerobic digestion of sludge completely degraded estrogens, oxybenzone, and SMX, but had no impact on bisphenol A, triclosan, and CBZ. The study emphasises the need to complement chemical analyses with estrogenic bioassays to evaluate the efficacy of waste water treatment plants.

UV filters (UV-Fs) are a group of hormonally active chemical compounds used to protect against the deleterious effects of UVA and UVB solar radiation, which are currently present in most consumer goods (personal care products, plastics, fabrics, paints, etc). Last years the concern about these emerging contaminants has been on the rise, and increasing efforts are being taken in order to properly asses the hazard that the exposure to these compounds in the early stages of life may pose. In this study, a new method for the analysis of 11 UV-Fs residues in human breast milk samples has been developed. The method is based on turbulent flow chromatography coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (TFC-HPLC-MS/MS). The validated method was successfully applied to 79 human breast milk samples from mothers in Barcelona (Spain). Twenty-four per cent of the samples contained UV-Fs, with major contributors being oxybenzone (benzophenone 3, BP3), its metabolite 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone (4DHB), and UV320 showing maximum concentrations of 779.9, 73.3, and 523.6ngg-1 milk, respectively. Additionally, the plastic containers of the milks were also analysed, revealing high concentrations of BP3 and 4DHB, up to 10.6µgg-1 plastic. The calculated mean ΣUV-Fs were useful to estimate the daily intake (EDI) by babies, which were 69.1µg d-1kg-1 body weight.

Oxybenzone is a ultraviolet (UV) absorber used in 70% of sunscreen products, is a recognized endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) and is small enough to pass through skin and placenta barriers. Numerous studies have identified this chemical in the urine/blood of pregnant women as well as in fetal and umbilical cord blood. A recent study demonstrated that women with medium to high levels of oxybenzone in their urine was associated with giving birth to neonates with Hirschsprung's Disease (HSCR). Testing in human cell lines confirmed that low levels of oxybenzone has the potential to disrupt cell migration and function in a manner similar to what is associated with HSCR. Analysis of human exposure levels to oxybenzone from sunscreen use, under normal conditions, demonstrates that enough chemical can cross into the mother's blood making it available to the fetus at high enough levels that can indeed inhibit migration of neural crest cells during critical embryonic development.

Coral reefs are impacted by a variety of anthropogenic stressors including inputs of chemical contaminants. Although data is currently limited, sunscreens containing ultraviolet (UV) filters have recently been suggested as an emerging class of chemical contaminants. To provide further data on the toxicity of the UV filter oxybenzone (benzophenone-3 or BP-3) to corals, we conducted three independent acute toxicity tests exposing the colonial stony coral Galaxea fascicularis to BP-3 (0.31 to 10 mg/L nominal concentrations). Assessments included daily analytical verification of the exposure concentrations, calculation of the lethal concentration to result in 50% mortality (LC50) and numerous biological endpoints to further investigate the potential impact to both the coral and symbiont. LC50s for the three tests were similar and averaged 6.53 ± 0.47 mg/L nominal concentration BP-3 (4.45 mg/L measured dissolved BP-3). BP-3 did not initiate coral bleaching or show a significant loss of symbionts from the coral tissue in this species as reductions in measurements used for bleaching (i.e. visual color, color saturation and photosynthetic pigment concentrations) were only seen concurrently with tissue loss (i.e. at ≥2.5 mg/L nominal concentration BP-3). Polyp retraction, the most sensitive endpoint of this test, was seen to be a sub-lethal behavioral response to BP-3 exposure. Using the calculated LC50 with measured concentrations from a high-quality UV filter monitoring study in Hawaii, a preliminary, conservative risk quotient for BP-3 was calculated at 0.032. These results suggest that BP-3 likely does not pose an acute risk of mortality to G. fascicularis and additional testing is required to determine sublethal impacts of BP-3 under environmentally relevant concentrations and longer-term chronic exposures. This study highlights complications in conducting toxicity tests with organic UV filters including under-estimations of exposure concentrations and provides recommendations to improve these methods for better comparisons between studies.

This study provided the first comprehensive data on the occurrence and removal of twenty-five target emerging contaminants (ECs) in a full-scale water reclamation plant (WRP) in the Southeast Asian region. Nineteen out of the twenty-five ECs were ubiquitously detected in raw influent samples. Concentrations of the detected ECs in raw influent samples ranged substantially from 44.3 to 124,966ng/L, depending upon the compound and sampling date. The elimination of ECs in full-scale conventional activated sludge (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems at a local WRP was evaluated and compared. Several ECs, such as acetaminophen, atenolol, fenoprofen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and oxybenzone, exhibited excellent removal efficiencies (>90%) in biological wastewater treatment processes, while some of the investigated compounds (carbamazepine, crotamiton, diclofenac, and iopamidol) appeared to be persistent in the both CAS and MBR systems. Field-based monitoring results showed that MBR outperformed CAS in the elimination of most target ECs. The relationship between molecular characteristics of ECs (i.e. physicochemical properties and structural features) and their removal efficiencies during biological wastewater treatment was also elucidated. Excellent removal efficiencies (>90%) were often noted for ECs with the sole presence of electron donating groups (i.e. phenolic [OH], amine [NH2], methoxy [OCH3], phenoxy [OC6H5], or alkyl groups). Conversely, ECs with the absence of electron donating groups or the predominance of strong electron withdrawing groups (e.g. halogenated, carbonyl, carboxyl, and sulfonamide) tended to show poor removal efficiencies (

International audience; Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in sunscreens and other personal-care products to protect against harmful effects of exposure to UV solar radiation. Little is known about the fate of UV filters in seawater swimming pools disinfected with chlorine. The present study investigated the occurrence and fate of five commonly used organic UV filters, namely dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, avobenzone, 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate, and octocrylene, in chlorinated seawater swimming pools. Pool samples were collected to monitor the variation of UV filter concentrations during pool opening hours. Furthermore, laboratory-controlled chlorination experiments were conducted in seawater spiked with UV filters to investigate the reactivity of UV filters. Extracts of chlorination reaction samples were analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry and electron-capture detection to identify the potentially formed byproducts. In the collected pool samples, all the UV filters except dioxybenzone were detected. Chlorination reactions showed that only octocrylene was stable in chlorinated seawater. The four reactive UV filters generated brominated transformation products and disinfection byproducts. This formation of brominated products resulted from reactions between the reactive UV filters and bromine, which is formed rapidly when chlorine is added to seawater. Based on the identified byproducts, the transformation pathways of the reactive UV filters were proposed for the first time. Bromoform was generated by all the reactive UV filters at different yields. Bromal hydrate was also detected as one of the byproducts generated by oxybenzone and dioxybenzone.

Thanaka (H. crenulata, N. crenulata, L. acidissima L.) is a common tree in Southeast Asia used by the people of Myanmar to create their distinctive face makeup meant for daily sun protection and skincare. Moreover, it is used as a traditional remedy to treat various diseases since it can also be applied as an insect repellent. In this systematic review, the chemical and biological properties of Thanaka have been summarised from 18 articles obtained from the Scopus database. Various extracts of Thanaka comprise a significant number of bioactive compounds that include antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenic and anti-microbial properties. More importantly, Thanaka exhibits low cytotoxicity towards human cell lines. The use of natural plant materials with various beneficial biological activities have been commonly replacing artificial and synthetic chemicals for health and environmental reasons as natural plant materials offer advantages such as antioxidant, antibacterial qualities while providing essential nourishment to the skin. This review serves as a reference for the research, development and commercialisation of Thanaka skincare products, in particular, sunscreen. Natural sunscreens have attracted enormous interests as a potential replacement for sun protection products made using synthetic chemicals such as oxybenzone that would cause health issues and damage to the environment.

TiO2 acts as an inorganic sunscreen and photocatalyst to protect humans from environmental pollutants. We incorporated TiO2 into mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for skin application to prevent environmental stresses including UVA irradiation and pollutant invasion. Organic ultraviolet (UV)A filters such as avobenzone and oxybenzone were then loaded into mesoporous support for synergistic sunscreen efficiency. The as-prepared formulations with different TiO2 amounts (10 %-50 %) were fabricated. The pore size decreased from 4.72 to 4.00 nm following the increase in TiO2 percentage. TiO2/SBA-15 captured about 60 % fluoranthene and 80 % furfural within 3 h with no significant difference due to different TiO2 content. The in vitro photoprotection assessed by UVA/UVB ratio exhibited the increase in Boots star rating from 2 to 3 to 5 by entrapment of avobenzone into TiO2/SBA-15. Thirty-percent TiO2/SBA-15 in hydrogel decreased avobenzone and oxybenzone deposition by 70 % and 80 % compared to free form, respectively. Avobenzone and TiO2 supplementation to SBA-15 significantly alleviated skin cell death and neutrophil recruitment in the photoaged mouse skin compared to the SBA-15 application alone. Compared to the UVA-irradiated skin, 30 % TiO2/SBA-15 showed a 2.5- and 3.1-fold decline in IL-1β and IL-6 levels, respectively. The TiO2/SBA-15 hybrid was considered non-irritant based on results of cytotoxicity assay, skin histology, and cutaneous barrier function. Our data indicate that the versatile mesoporous silica is an effective system for topical use in sunscreen and skin protection.

Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) is an emerging human and environmental contaminant used in sunscreens and personal care products to help minimize the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. The Center for Disease Control fourth national report on human exposure to environmental chemicals demonstrated that approximately 97% of the people tested have oxybenzone present in their urine, and independent scientists have reported various concentrations in waterways and fish worldwide. Oxybenzone can also react with chlorine, producing hazardous by-products that can concentrate in swimming pools and wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, adverse reactions could very well be increased by the closed loop of ingesting fish contaminated with oxybenzone and/or washing the ingredient off our bodies and having it return in drinking water as treatment plants do not effectively remove the chemical as part of their processing protocols. In humans, oxybenzone has been reported to produce contact and photocontact allergy reactions, implemented as a possible endocrine disruptor and has been linked to Hirschsprung's disease. Environmentally, oxybenzone has been shown to produce a variety of toxic reactions in coral and fish ranging from reef bleaching to mortality. Lastly, with the rise in skin cancer rates and the availability of more effective sunscreen actives such as micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, serious doubts about the relative prevention benefit of personal care products containing oxybenzone must be raised and compared with the potential negative health and environmental effects caused by the accumulation of this and other chemicals in the ecosystem.

A novel membrane distillation – enzymatic membrane bioreactor (MD-EMBR) system was developed for efficient degradation of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs). Degradation of five TrOCs, namely carbamazepine, oxybenzone, diclofenac, atrazine and sulfamethoxazole was examined using two commercially available laccases (from Trametes versicolor and Aspergillus oryzae ). The MD system ensured complete retention (>99%) of both enzyme and TrOCs. Of particular interest was that the complete retention of the TrOCs resulted in high TrOC degradation by both laccases. Oxybenzone and diclofenac degradation in the MD-EMBR ranged between 80 and 99%. Compared to previously developed EMBRs, as much as 40% improvement in the removal of resistant non-phenolic TrOCs ( e.g., carbamazepine) was observed. Laccase from A. oryzae demonstrated better TrOC degradation and enzymatic stability. With the addition of redox mediators, namely 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) or violuric acid (VA), TrOC degradation was improved by 10–20%. This is the first demonstration of a laccase-based high retention membrane bioreactor for enhanced biodegradation of TrOCs.

UV-filters (UVFs) are active ingredients in personal care products that protect skin from exposure to UV light. Environmentally-relevant concentrations of UVFs have recently been linked to toxicity in aquatic organisms, necessitating research into improved UVF removal in water/wastewater treatment. Here, we investigated ozonation of the three most commonly employed UVFs: octinoxate (OMC), octocrylene (OC), and oxybenzone (OXY). Specific second-order rate constants for UVF reaction with ozone were identified as follows: OMC, 5.25×104M-1s-1; OC, 1.58M-1s-1; OXY (neutral), 3.80×102M-1s-1; and, OXY (anion), 1.51×106M-1s-1. These kinetic parameters indicated that OMC and OXY undergo significant (2-log or greater) transformation for typical ozone exposures in disinfection processes; however, minimal oxidation is expected for OC. UV absorbance mapping was employed to characterize the loss of UVF activity (i.e., absorbance across the UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C ranges) during ozonation. These 4-dimensional maps also confirmed ozone attack mechanisms, namely reaction at phenolate (OXY) and olefin (OMC, OC) groups. Primary transformation products from these reactions were identified for all three UVFs of concern. For OC and OXY, the benzophenone structure is conserved, suggesting that transformation products retain toxicity concerns.

Organic UV-filters are key ingredients found in sunscreens, cosmetics and plastic goods. Concerns have been raised about potential ecological and human health effects of certain organic UV filters that are currently FDA approved for use in the United States. Here, we investigate the photochemical fate of two of these compounds, oxybenzone and sulisobenzone. Both oxybenzone and sulisobenzone have previously been detected in surface waters, seawater, and treated wastewater effluent. Direct photolysis is found to be unimportant for these compounds, however, enhanced photodegradation of oxybenzone and sulisobenzone was observed under simulated solar irradiation in solutions of International Humic Substance Society standards (Pony Lake fulvic acid and Suwannee River natural organic matter), filtered wastewater effluent (Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lockbourne, OH), and Scioto River water (Columbus, OH) at pH 7. Quenching experiments with isopropanol revealed that the main pathway for degradation appears to be reaction with the hydroxyl radical (OH). Observed degradation rates were 2–3 times slower than estimates calculated using literature reported second-order rate constants and measured hydroxyl radical steady-state concentrations for Suwannee River natural organic matter, Pony Lake fulvic acid and Scioto waters. The Southerly sample, however, exhibited nearly identical expected and observed rate constants, which we take to indicate the presence of unidentified reactive species that can react with oxybenzone and sulisobenzone. Values obtained in this work were used to calculate second-order rate constants for oxybenzone and sulisobenzone with the hydroxyl radical, as well as to estimate environmental half-lives for these compounds. Near surface 24-h averaged half-lives of 3.0 and 4.0 days were calculated for oxybenzone and sulisobenzone, respectively. When extrapolated to an environmentally representative water column, these same 24-h averaged half-lives increased to 2.4 and 3.5 years, respectively.