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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.

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The polyphenols determined are: (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol. Suitable conditions of supercritical fluid extraction were established using ethanol as a modifier of the polarity solvent (supercritical carbon dioxide). Final extraction conditions were: 20% v/v ethanol, 60degreesC, 250 bars and flow rate 2 mL/min. Static step time and dynamic step time were established using a selected grape skin sample. The extract was collected in water; the more polar polyphenols ((+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin) remain in solution but rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol precipitate in this medium, thereby the solution of the extracted polyphenols was filtered. (+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin were determined in the liquid fraction, while the solid fraction, containing rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol, was solved with ethanol/H20 (40:60). HPLC determination was carried out at C18 stationary phase, with ethanol/water/acetic acid as mobile phases and UV-visible diode array detection. Due to the significant differences between the polarity of the polyphenols, two different mobile phases were used. An ethanol/water/acetic acid (5:93:2) mobile phase was used to determine (+)-catechin (280 nm) and (-)-epicatechin (280 nm). On the other hand, rutin (254 nm), quercetin (254 nm) and trans-resveratrol (306 nm) were resolved using ethanol/water/acetic acid (40:58:2) as mobile phase. Instrumental parameters were optimised and analytical parameters obtained. The analytical method was validated and applied to five different varieties of Vitis vinifera from the geographical area of Valencia.