Benzotriazole UV Stabilizers (BUVSs) in the Environment: Much More than an Emerging Contaminant of Concern

Abstract

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVs) are a group of industrial chemicals used in various consumer products and industrial applications. Due to its large scale production and use, BUVs have been detected in all environmental matrices and in human milk; hence, they attract researchers and regulatory bodies worldwide. BUVs are considered as a new family of emerging environmental contaminants. Due to their persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like properties, they have also been classified as substances of very high concern (SVHC). The current review focuses on the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT) of several BUVs, as well as their multicompartmental occurrence. Scarcity of scientific data on BUVs properties, occurrence in the environment, exposure levels and effects on organisms poses significant challenges to the policymakers and regulatory bodies in adopting management strategies. The need for a science-based integrated framework for risk assessment and management of benzotriazoles (BZTs) is recommended.