Abstract
A growing awareness of the risks associated with skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation over the past decades has led to increased use of sunscreen cosmetic products leading the introduction of new chemical compounds in the marine environment. Although coastal tourism and recreation are the largest and most rapidly growing activities in the world, the evaluation of sunscreen as source of chemicals to the coastal marine system has not been addressed. Concentrations of chemical UV filters included in the formulation of sunscreens, such as benzophehone 3 (BZ-3), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), TiO2 and ZnO, are detected in nearshore waters with variable concentrations along the day and mainly concentrated in the surface microlayer (i.e. 53.6–577.5 ng L-1 BZ-3; 51.4–113.4 ng L-1 4-MBC; 6.9–37.6 µg L-1 Ti; 1.0–3.3 µg L-1 Zn). The presence of these compounds in seawater suggests relevant effects on phytoplankton. Indeed, we provide evidences of the negative effect of sunblocks on the growth of the commonly found marine diatom Chaetoceros gracilis (mean EC50 = 125±71 mg L-1). Dissolution of sunscreens in seawater also releases inorganic nutrients (N, P and Si forms) that can fuel algal growth. In particular, PO4 3− is released by these products in notable amounts (up to 17 µmol PO4 3− g−1). We conservatively estimate an increase of up to 100% background PO4 3− concentrations (0.12 µmol L-1 over a background level of 0.06 µmol L-1) in nearshore waters during low water renewal conditions in a populated beach in Majorca island. Our results show that sunscreen products are a significant source of organic and inorganic chemicals that reach the sea with potential ecological consequences on the coastal marine ecosystem.
Highlights
In spite of the fact that coastal tourism and recreation are becoming the largest and most rapidly growing activities in the world [1] and that sunscreen products have been used for nearly 80 years, the effect of sunscreens, as a source of introduced chemicals to the coastal marine system, has not yet been addressed
Chemical analysis of the surface nearshore waters of three areas around Majorca Island showed that four of the main chemicals used in commercial sunscreens were detected in the surface waters, with the highest concentrations measured in the unfiltered fraction of the surface microlayer (SML) (i.e. benzophehone 3 (BZ-3):580650 ng L-1; 4MBC: 11367 ng L-1; and Ti: 3867 mg L-1; Zn: 10.8 mg L-1; Table 1)
Because of the lipophilic characteristic of these cosmetics [4], and the insolubility of many of their chemicals, sunscreen products tend to be more concentrated in the surface microlayer (SML) and to accumulate in soils and particles [26]
Summary
In spite of the fact that coastal tourism and recreation are becoming the largest and most rapidly growing activities in the world [1] and that sunscreen products have been used for nearly 80 years, the effect of sunscreens, as a source of introduced chemicals to the coastal marine system, has not yet been addressed. Studies conducted in lakes (i.e. Zurich and Huttnersee Lakes, Swiss) suggest that UV filter removal processes from the water column are important, and can be mediated by biodegradation processes and/or absorption sedimentation [11]. Because of their lipophilicity, persistence and stability against biodegradation they have been shown to accumulate in the food chain [4,12]
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