Estimation of the Discharge of Sunscreens in Aquatic Environments of the Mexican Caribbean

Diego Armando Casas-Beltran,Miguel Hernández-Pedraza,Jesús Alvarado-Flores

doi:10.3390/environments7020015

Diego Armando Casas-Beltran, Miguel Hernández-Pedraza + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7020015

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Abstract

Tourist growth in Quintana Roo, Mexico has brought with it an increase of pollution by sunscreens to aquatic ecosystems, which represents an environmental risk because of the chemical components of sunscreens that can negatively affect human health and aquatic ecosystems. However, the magnitude of pollution in aquatic environments is unknown. Consequently, we sought to estimate the contamination by sunscreens based on usage and tourism statistics. Our estimate indicates that the water in Quintana Roo will receive nearly 4367.25 tons of chemicals from sunscreens used by residents and tourists over a period of 18 years (2007 to 2025). On average, each tourist stays in Quintana Roo for 3.45 days, and 89.9% of these visitors apply sunscreen, although only the 83.7% engage in water activities. Additionally, 30.4% of residents engage in water activities for an average of 1.5 days/year. We considered direct sunscreen contaminant contamination, which occurs from the application of sunscreen and subsequent water activities, as well as indirect contamination, which occurs when people wash their skin with drinking water that then enters the drainage system. Our analysis indicated that the greatest contribution of sunscreen to the karst aquifer of Quintana Roo, is direct. Chemicals dissolved in water are a danger to aquatic life and human health.

Highlights

The contamination of aquatic ecosystems via the intensive use and direct or indirect contamination of sunscreen is an environmental hazard, as the chemical components of sunscreen are a danger to biota and human health [1]
We considered direct sunscreen contaminant contamination, which occurs from the application of sunscreen and subsequent water activities, as well as indirect contamination, which occurs when people wash their skin with drinking water that enters the drainage system
Based on data reported in the literature, the estimated total contamination in grams by sunscreens and their ingredients was estimated according to the following formula: DTBS = [(TTANO ∗ TAQ) ∗ (TBS)] ∗ [(TGDIA) ∗ (TVEC)] ∗ [TDIA] ∗ 0.25 where DTBS is the total contamination by sunscreens or components or the maximum contamination by a component according to the maximum percentage allowed in the composition of blocker components as reported by Sánchez-Quiles and Tovar-Sánchez [7]

Summary

Introduction

The contamination of aquatic ecosystems via the intensive use and direct or indirect contamination of sunscreen is an environmental hazard, as the chemical components of sunscreen are a danger to biota and human health [1]. These compounds reach ecosystems primarily via the rinsing of topical sunscreen that has been applied to the skin and its eventual travel through wastewater treatment systems [2,3]. In coastal areas with aquatic activities, use increases, magnifying the contamination problem [7] In these situations, approximately 25% of the total sunscreen is washed directly into the water [8]

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