UV-filters are a group of compounds designed mainly to protect skin against UVA and UVB radiation, but they are also included in plastics, furniture, etc., to protect products from light damage. Their massive use in sunscreens for skin protection has been increasing due to the awareness of the chronic and acute effects of UV radiation. Some organic UV-filters have raised significant concerns in the past few years for their continuous usage, persistent input and potential threat to ecological environment and human health. UV-filters end up is wastewater and because wastewater treatment plants are not efficient in removing them, lipophilic compounds tend to sorb onto sludge and hydrophilics end up in river water, contaminating the existing biota. To better understand the risk associated with UV-filters in the environment a thorough review regarding their physicochemical properties, toxicity and environmental degradation, analytical methods and their occurrence was conducted.Higher UV-filter concentrations were found in rivers, reaching 0.3 mg/L for the most studied family, the benzophenone derivatives. Concentrations in the ng to µg/L range were also detected for the paminobenzoic acid, cinnamate, crylene and benzoyl methane derivatives in lake and sea water.Although at lower levels (few ng/L), UV-filters were also found in tap and groundwater. Swimming pool water is also a sink for UV-filters and its chlorine by-products, at the µg/L range, highlighting the benzophenone and benzimidazole derivatives. Soils and sediments are not frequently studied, but concentrations in the µg/L range have already been found especially for the benzophenone and crylene derivatives. Aquatic biota is frequently studied and UV-filters are found in the ng/g-dw range with higher values for fish and mussels. It has been concluded that more information regarding UVfilter degradation studies both in water and sediments is necessary and environmental occurrences should be monitored more frequently and deeply. SEHSDT -sequential extraction with high-speed dispersion tool; SLE -solid-liquid extraction; SPEsolid-phase extraction; SPF -sun protection factor; SPLE -selective pressurized liquid extraction;SPMDs -semipermeable membrane devices; SPME -solid phase microextraction; TD -thermal desorption; TCE -tetrachloroethylene; THF -tetrahydrofuran; Tl -toluene; UPLC -ultraperformance liquid chromatography; USE -ultrasound extraction; UV -ultraviolet; WTP -water treatment plant; WWTP -wastewater treatment plant 4

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract