Cited by 64Environmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Chemistry and Analysis

Review of the environmental fate and effects of two UV filter substances used in cosmetic products

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Duis, Karen, Junker, Thomas, Coors, Anja·2022·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

Sunscreens containing UV filters, such as octocrylene (OCR) and butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM), have been increasingly used to protect human skin against UV radiation. Both substances have been detected in monitoring studies in the freshwater and marine environment, and there has been concern about potential effects on aquatic organisms. In the present work, the environmental fate and occurrence, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicity including endocrine effects of OCR and BMDBM are reviewed focusing on the aquatic environment. The two UV filters have low water solubilities and a high sorption potential. The available data indicate that OCR is poorly biodegradable. BMDBM lacks anaerobic and inherent biodegradability. However, it was biodegraded to variable degrees in simulation studies. Measured concentrations in the freshwater and marine environment were found to vary considerably between sites, depending on the extent of recreational activities or wastewater discharges. While the bioconcentration factor of OCR in fish is below the threshold value for bioaccumulation according to EU REACH, the available data for BMDBM do not allow a definitive conclusion on its bioaccumulation potential. Analysis of the aquatic toxicity data showed that data quality was often limited, e.g. in the case of effect concentrations substantially exceeding maximum achievable dissolved concentrations. Up to their limit of water solubility, OCR and BMDBM showed no toxicity to microorganisms, algae, and corals, and no acute toxicity to daphnids and fish. In chronic daphnid tests, OCR was highly toxic, whereas BMDBM lacked toxicity. Reliable water-sediment toxicity tests are required to further evaluate possible effects on benthic invertebrates. The available data do not provide evidence for endocrine effects of the two UV filters on fish. In order to assess potential environmental risks caused by OCR and BMDBM, a validated exposure model for estimating direct emission of UV filters into the aquatic environment and data from systematic, longer-term monitoring studies are needed.

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  • UV filters in marine waters deposit in sediments and contribute to bioaccumulation in marine and terrestrial organisms through absorption, abiotic and biotic degradation, hydrolysis, and photolysis.

    “It is noteworthy mentioning that the presence of these compounds in marine waters, will after some time deposit in sediments, contributing for the bioaccumulation in both marine and terrestrial organisms, through absorption, abiotic and biotic degradation, hydrolysis, and photolysis [84,86,87].”

    From UV Filters: Challenges and Prospects (2022) · cites this paper as [86]

    Sections 3.3 and 4 describe partitioning of the two UV filters from water into sediment, and section 3.4.2 reports accumulation measurements in aquatic organisms. The paper does not establish bioaccumulation in terrestrial organisms or describe hydrolysis, photolysis, and degradation as routes by which sediment deposition causes bioaccumulation. Section 3.4.1 also concludes that OCR is not bioaccumulative under the EU REACH criterion. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Boelsterli, U.A., 2005. Mechanistic toxicology -The Molecular Basis of How Chemicals Dis- rupt Biological Targets. Taylor & Francis, London, New York.
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Authors
Duis, K., Junker, T., & Coors, A.
Affiliations
ECT Oekotoxikologie (Germany) (DE)
Corresponding author
Duis, Karen
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-02
Volume
808
Pages
151931
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3216159644
Cited by
64
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9
FWCI
0.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
Keywords
UV filters, octocrylene, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, sunscreen, environmental fate, bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity, endocrine effects, biodegradability, aquatic organisms, bioconcentration factor, exposure modeling, wastewater discharge, daphnids, fish toxicity, benthic invertebrates
MeSH terms
Animals, Fishes, Fresh Water, Sunscreening Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Toxicity Tests

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