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Organic ultraviolet filters (OUVFs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are two important new pollutants that coexist widely in freshwater and coastal habitats. Both OUVFs and MPs can be taken up by aquatic organisms and may be toxic or co-toxic. In this study, the neurotoxicity and interaction neurotoxicity of the typical OUVFs butyl methoxydibenzoyl methane (BM-DBM) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on zebrafish at environmental concentrations were comprehensively investigated at the tissue and molecular levels using transgenic or non-transgenic zebrafish. Results showed that both BM-DBM and PS-NPs induced abnormal expression of developmental genes neurogenin 1, glial fibrillary acidic protein, Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins osteosarcoma oncogene, growth-associated protein 43, synapsin IIa, and apoptosis regulator a (Bcl2a), Bcl2 associated x and apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase a, neuronal loss, motor neuron axon deletion, neuronal apoptosis and behavioral abnormalities in larvae thus being neurotoxic. BM-DBM also specifically interferes with neurotransmitter systems and affects signaling between neurons. In addition, PS-NPs and BM-BDM exerted synergistic and antagonistic effects in inducing apoptosis in neuronal cells and developmental neurotoxicity, respectively. Our results highlight the neurotoxic risk of PS-NPs and BM-BDM and the complex interactive neurotoxic effects of the two. We anticipate that our study may lay the foundation for ecological risk assessment of OUVFs and PS-NPs and exploration of complex interactions between PS-NPs and hydrophobic organic pollutants.

The presence of benzothiazoles (BTHs) and organic ultraviolet filters (UV filters) in aquatic ecosystems has emerged as a significant environmental issue, requiring urgent and efficient determination methods. A new, rapid, and sensitive determination method using gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC–MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous extraction and analysis of 10 commonly used BTHs and 10 organic UV filters in surface water, wastewater, sediment, and sludge. For aqueous samples, solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was employed with optimizing of SPE cartridge type, pH, and elution solvent. For solid samples, ultrasonic extraction-solid-phase extraction purification (UE-SPE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) methods were compared. And extraction conditions for ultrasonic extraction method (extraction solvents and extraction times) and PLE method (extraction temperatures and extraction cycles) were optimized. The limits of quantification for the 20 target compounds in surface water and wastewater were 0.01–2.12 ng/L and 0.05–6.14 ng/L, while those for sediment and sludge with UE-SPE method were 0.04–5.88 ng/g and 0.22–6.61 ng/g, respectively. Among the 20 target compounds, the recoveries ranged from 70 to 130% were obtained for 16, 15, 15, and 15 analytes in the matrix-spiked samples of surface water, wastewater, sediment, and sludge with three levels, respectively. And the precision was also acceptable with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 20% for all analytes. The developed methods were applied for the determination and quantification of target compounds in surface water, sediment, wastewater, and sludge samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China. BTHs were frequently detected in surface water and wastewater, while UV filters were mainly found in sediment and sludge. Benzotriazole (BT) and 2-hydroxybenzothiazole (2-OH-BTH) were the two major BTHs in influent wastewater and surface water, respectively, with concentrations up to 966 and 189 ng/L. As for sediment and sludge, 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-octylphenyl)-benzotriazole (UV-329) was a predominant chemical, detected at concentrations of 111 and 151 ng/g, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs have been declining globally at a historically unprecedented rate. Ultraviolet (UV) filters used in sunscreens may contribute to this decline at local scales, which has already led to bans on various organic UV filters in some regions. However, the underlying studies for these bans demonstrated significant flaws in the experimental design due to a lack of validated and standardized testing methods for corals. This study aimed to investigate options for the development of a standard acute toxicity test for the larval stage of scleractinian corals. Planula larvae of two brooding (Leptastrea purpurea and Tubastraea faulkneri) and two spawning (Acropora digitifera and A. millepora) species were exposed to the organic UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP3) for 48 h under static conditions. We observed interspecific variations in toxicity, with A. digitifera being the most sensitive (LC50 = 0.75 µg L−1) and T. faulkneri the least sensitive (LC50 = 2951.24 µg L−1) species. Inhibition of settlement was found to be a useful endpoint leading to an EC50 of 1.84 µg L−1 in L. purpurea larvae. Although the analytical challenges of measuring lipophilic substances in small volume test setups remain, the here applied test design and selected endpoints are suitable for further validation and subsequent standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological risks of organic ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) have been of increasing concern. Studies have found that these chemicals could be accumulated in terrestrial animals and pose toxicities. However, tissue distribution of UVAs in terrestrial species was far from well understood. In this study, free-range chickens and domestic pigeons were selected to investigate the occurrence and tissue distribution of UVAs. Total concentrations of eleven UVAs in muscles ranged from 778 to 2874 (mean 1413 ± 666) ng/g lipid weight, which were higher than those in aquatic species worldwide. Since low UVA concentrations in local environment were previously reported, the results implied the strong accumulation of UVAs in studied species. Brain, stomach and kidney were main target organs for studied UVAs, differentiating from the strong liver sequestration in aquatic species. The mean tissue-to-muscle ratios of 1.02–4.23 further indicated the preferential accumulation of target UVAs in these tissues. The tissue-to-blood ratios of benzophenone (BP), 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) and homosalate (HMS) in brain were 370, 1207 and 52.0, respectively, implying their preferential accumulation in brain. More research is needed to characterize the toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of UVAs in terrestrial wild species, in order to further understand their potential risks. [Display omitted] • First report on tissue distribution of lipophilic UVAs in terrestrial animals. • UVAs showed higher concentrations in chickens and pigeons than aquatic species. • Tissue distribution of UVAs in chickens and pigeons differed from that in aquatic species. • High accumulations of UVAs in brains of chickens and pigeons were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs have been declining globally at a historically unprecedented rate. Ultraviolet (UV) filters used in sunscreens may contribute to this decline at local scales, which has already led to bans on various organic UV filters in some regions. However, the underlying studies for these bans demonstrated significant flaws in the experimental design due to a lack of validated and standardized testing methods for corals. This study aimed to investigate options for the development of a standard acute toxicity test for the larval stage of scleractinian corals. Planula larvae of two brooding (Leptastrea purpurea and Tubastraea faulkneri) and two spawning (Acropora digitifera and A. millepora) species were exposed to the organic UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP3) for 48 h under static conditions. We observed interspecific variations in toxicity, with A. digitifera being the most sensitive (LC50 = 0.75 µg L−1) and T. faulkneri the least sensitive (LC50 = 2951.24 µg L−1) species. Inhibition of settlement was found to be a useful endpoint leading to an EC50 of 1.84 µg L−1 in L. purpurea larvae. Although the analytical challenges of measuring lipophilic substances in small volume test setups remain, the here applied test design and selected endpoints are suitable for further validation and subsequent standardization.

UV filters are a group of compounds commonly used in different cosmetic products to absorb UV radiation. They are classified into a variety of chemical groups, such as benzophenones, salicylates, benzotriazoles, cinnamates, p-aminobenzoates, triazines, camphor derivatives, etc. Different tests have shown that some of these chemicals are absorbed through the skin and metabolised or bioaccumulated. These processes can cause negative health effects, including mutagenic and cancerogenic ones. Due to the absence of official monitoring protocols, there is an increased number of analytical methods that enable the determination of those compounds in cosmetic samples to ensure user safety, as well as in biological fluids and tissues samples, to obtain more information regarding their behaviour in the human body. This review aimed to show and discuss the published studies concerning analytical methods for the determination of organic UV filters in cosmetic and biological samples. It focused on sample preparation, analytical techniques, and analytical performance (limit of detection, accuracy, and repeatability).

Octocrylene (OC), an UV-filter (OUVF) is used in many cosmetic products to protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation. Octocrylene has been detected in the environment and become an emerging contaminant of concern. However, the eco-toxicological data on octocrylene and their molecular effects and mechanism of action on freshwater fish are very limited. In this research work, the potential toxicity of octocrylene and its mechanisms on morphology, antioxidant and AChE activity, apoptosis, and histopathological changes were investigated in embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) at different concentrations (5, 50 and 500 μg/L). Embryos/larvae (96 hpf) treated with 50 and 500 μg/L of OC caused developmental abnormalities, and decreased hatching rate and heartbeat rate. The oxidative damage (LPO) and antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT and GST) activities were apparently elevated (P < 0.05) at the highest test concentration (500 μg/L). However, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was significantly inhibited at the highest test concentration. Also, OC induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The zebrafish exposed to 50 and 500 μg/L showed histopathological changes including elongated yolk sac, swim bladder inflammation, muscle cell degeneration, retinal damage and pyknotic cells. In conclusion, octocrylene has induced oxidative stress at environmentally relevant concentrations leading to developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and histopathological damage in zebrafish embryos/larvae. [Display omitted] • Octocrylene (OC), an organic UV filter induced developmental toxicity to zebrafish. • Antioxidant enzyme activities were increased in fish with higher OC concentration. • Exposure to Otocrylene inhibits the AChE activity in embryonic zebrafish. • Otocrylene induced apoptotic as shown by acridine orange (AO) and DAPI staining. • Otocrylene caused structural damages in embryonic zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochemical instability and reactivity of organic ultraviolet (UV) filters not only degrade the performance of sunscreen formulations but also generate toxic photodegradation products and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although the encapsulation of organic UV filters into synthetic polymer particles has been widely investigated, synthetic plastics were recently banned for personal care and cosmetic products due to marine and coastal pollution issues. Here we present a plastic-free, photochemically stable and inactive UV filter platform based on chitosan-coated mesoporous silica microparticles, denoted 'mSOCPs', incorporating octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) as a sunscreen agent. Sunlight induced the degradation of ∼80% free OMC in artificial sweat in 1 h at room temperature, while only 20% of OMC degraded for 3 h when encapsulated within mSOCPs. Moreover, mSOCPs efficiently suppressed the photochemical generation of ROS by about 99% through the combined effects of the mesoporous silica structure and chitosan coating. Accordingly, mSOCPs substantially increased the cell viability of fibroblasts exposed to UV irradiation. This work demonstrates that the biopolymer coatings of mesoporous inorganic particles can be a promising approach to the plastic-free encapsulation of organic UV filters for suppressing their photochemical reactivity and degradation. [Display omitted] • Plastic-free photochemical suppression is presented for organic UV filters. • Chitosan is deposited onto mesoporous silica particles incorporating UV filters. • The hybrid particles dramatically reduce reactive oxygen species. • The hybrid particles decrease UV-induced cytotoxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are applied widely in personal care products (PCPs), but the distribution and risks of these compounds in the marine environment are not well known. In this study, the occurrence and removal efficiencies of 12 organic UV filters in five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) equipped with different treatment levels in Hong Kong, South China, were investigated during one year and a preliminary environmental risk assessment was carried out. Using a newly developed simultaneous multiclass quantification liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDM), 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), benzophenone-4 (BP-4) and 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-trimethoxycinnamate (EHMC) were frequently (≥80%) detected in both influent and effluent with mean concentrations ranging from 23 to 1290 ng/L and 18–1018 ng/L, respectively; less than 2% of samples contained levels greater than 1000 ng/L. Higher concentrations of these frequently detected compounds were found during the wet/summer season, except for BP-4, which was the most abundant compound detected in all samples in terms of total mass. The target compounds behaved differently depending on the treatment level in WWTPs; overall, removal efficiencies were greater after secondary treatment when compared to primary treatment with >55% and <20% of compounds showing high removal (defined as >70% removal), respectively. Reverse osmosis was found to effectively eliminate UV filters from effluent (>99% removal). A preliminary risk assessment indicated that BP-3 and EHMC discharged from WWTPs may pose high risk to fishes in the local environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A stable, reusable and biocompatible magnetic core-shell β-CD was synthesized. • Amphiphilic β-CD exhibits good water dispersibility and extraction efficiency. • A simple, cheap and sensitive HPLC method was developed for complex samples. • Molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the interaction mechanisms. A simple and efficient analytical method for organic UV filters (UV-Fs) in environmental samples has been established in this study. Taking advantage of the hydrophobicity on the inner cavity, hydrophilicity on the outer wall, and host-guest interaction provided by beta-cyclodextrin, a core-shell magnetic extraction material was firstly synthesized by using a facile method. The extractant was utilized in magnetic solid-phase extraction of UV-Fs in complex environmental samples, including beach sand, sediment and river water samples, followed by the quantitation using high-performance liquid chromatography. A series of factors affecting extraction efficiencies of seven UV-Fs were profoundly optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges were at 5.0–5.0 × 102 ng mL−1 for the UV-Fs with regression coefficients (r) at 0.9984–0.9998. The limits of detection were from 0.12 to 1.4 ng mL−1. The recoveries were in the range of 84.2–109%. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics simulations and independent gradient model analysis were applied to reveal the adsorption configuration and interaction mechanisms between target analytes and the sorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) and industrial antioxidants (IAs) are contaminants of emerging concern. In this study, we investigated the distribution and partitioning of these contaminants in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment, and various tissues of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) and northern pike ( Esox lucius ) from the St. Lawrence River (SLR), Quebec, Canada. Results indicated that 2,6-di- tert -butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BHTQ) was the dominant contaminant in the dissolved phase of the surface water, with median concentrations of 43, 15, and 123 ng/L for three sampling sites, respectively. Surface water collected downstream of a major city showed higher levels of various UVAs, BHTQ, and diphenylamine compared to the upstream, suggesting the influence of the urban activities on the contamination of these emerging contaminants in the SLR. SPM showed greater sorption capacities of most target contaminants compared to those of the sediment. Different contamination profiles were found in lake sturgeon and northern pike, implying that the accumulation of UVAs and IAs in fish depends on their feeding behavior. The field-based tissue-specific bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for frequently detected contaminants (log BAF 1.5-4.2) were generally comparable to or lower than the Estimation Program Interface modeling results (1.4-5.0), indicating that some of these contaminants may be less bioaccumulative than previously expected.

UV filters are a group of compounds commonly used in different cosmetic products to absorb UV radiation. They are classified into a variety of chemical groups, such as benzophenones, salicylates, benzotriazoles, cinnamates, p-aminobenzoates, triazines, camphor derivatives, etc. Different tests have shown that some of these chemicals are absorbed through the skin and metabolised or bioaccumulated. These processes can cause negative health effects, including mutagenic and cancerogenic ones. Due to the absence of official monitoring protocols, there is an increased number of analytical methods that enable the determination of those compounds in cosmetic samples to ensure user safety, as well as in biological fluids and tissues samples, to obtain more information regarding their behaviour in the human body. This review aimed to show and discuss the published studies concerning analytical methods for the determination of organic UV filters in cosmetic and biological samples. It focused on sample preparation, analytical techniques, and analytical performance (limit of detection, accuracy, and repeatability). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the determination of organic ultravioletfilters (OUFs) in water samples was developed by the combination of polymeric ionic liquid-based magnetic solid-phase extraction (PIL-MSPE) and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). To achieve the optimum extraction performance for the target analytes, several key variables, including desorption solvent, adsorption and desorption time, sample pH value and ionic strength in the sample matrix, were investigated in detail. Under the most favorable extraction conditions, linear behaviors were observed in the ranges of 0.5-200.0 μg/L for octyl salicylate and 0.2-200.0 μg/L for the other analytes. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N =3) and limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N =10) for the target OUFs were in the ranges of 0.009-0.13 μg/L and 0.031-0.43 μg/L, respectively. The developed PIL/MSPE-HPLC-DAD method was successfully applied to detect trace OUFs in real water samples. The spiked recoveries at different spiked levels were 71.4%-120%, and the RSDs were below 10% for all the compounds in all the samples. The proposed method has some unique merits including simple operation, fast extraction procedure, high sensitivity and environmental friendliness. It can become a useful method for the monitoring of trace OUFs in water samples.