UV filters used in sunscreens—A lack in current coral protection?. (29th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pawlowski, Sascha; Moeller, Mareen; Miller, Ingo B.; Kellermann, Matthias Y.; Schupp, Peter J.; Petersen‐Thiery, Mechtild
• Is Part Of: Integrated environmental assessment and management. Volume 17:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 926
• Page End: 939
• Publication Date: 2021-06-29
• Subjects: Coral toxicity -- environmental risk assessment (ERA) -- Sunscreen -- UV filter; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; 628
• DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4454
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1551-3777

Abstract

Abstract: Ultraviolet (UV) filters used in sunscreens are among the anthropogenic substances that may enter the marine environment by both indirect (via wastewater) and direct pathways (leisure activities). Owing to the recent global decline in coral population, the impact of those UV filters on the coral health is currently under increased investigation. First results from scientists suggest that some of the filters may be toxic to various coral life stages, but an initial cross comparison with existing data from other freshwater organisms does not indicate that corals are specifically more susceptible to UV filters than other standard species. In fact, the available data leading to this conclusion is still vague and based on toxicity and bioaccumulation tests with corals, which are both still at the research stage. To facilitate a proper hazard assessment, robust experimental procedures for coral ecotoxicological studies are considered mandatory. In other words, additional steps should be taken to standardize and validate such new test systems to generate reliable results, which then can be used in regulatory decision making. Furthermore, to facilitate a more detailed and site‐specific environmental risk assessment in the marine area, an application‐based exposure scenario must be developed. Until these data and tools become available, environmental hazard and risk assessments may be carried out using existing data from freshwater organisms and existing tonnage‐based exposure scenarios as a potential surrogate. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:926–939. © 2021 SETAC KEY POINTS: UV filters are key ingredients in sunscreens, with a similar function but decidedly different in their physicochemical properties and environmental hazard profiles. Environmental risk assessments of UV filters are currently based on toxicity data from standard test organisms (i.e., algae, Daphnia, fish) and tonnage‐based exposure scenarios, making it difficult to assess their impacts on corals. Results indicate that this approach could also safeguard corals, although uncertainty exists linked to data quality and scenarios used. Standardized coral toxicity tests and application‐based exposure scenarios would certainly help to clarify existing uncertainties.