Fate and Toxicity of UV Filters in Marine Environments

Abstract

UV filters have been widely used in sunscreen products, and they have partially ended up in the marine environment via human recreational activities and sewage treatment plant drainage, becoming one of the emerging marine pollutants. As UV filters have many characteristics, such as extensive use, continuous emissions, and stability, their potential risks to the environment and ecology have become a hot topic in the field of environmental research all over the world. This study analyzed the environmental behavior of UV filters in the ocean, such as migration, transformation, and volatilization. The toxic effects (i. e., growth inhibition, reproductive inhibition, death, and malformation) of the inorganic (mainly nano-TiO2 and nano-ZnO) and organic UV filters (mainly benzophenones, camphor derivatives, and cinnamic acids) on marine organisms (i. e., algae, seashell, fish, coral, and sea urchin) were summarized. The research also analyzed the inherent toxicity mechanisms from the perspective of oxidative damage, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disability. The prospect and future directions in this field were also discussed. This review provides a reference for scientific research and pollution control related to UV filters.