Environmental impacts due to the use of sunscreen products: a mini-review

Abstract

Sunscreen use has increased in recent years, as sunscreen products minimize the damaging effects of solar radiation. Active ingredients called ultraviolet (UV) filters or UV agents, either organic or inorganic, responsible for defending skin tissue against harmful UV rays, are incorporated in sunscreen formulations. UV agents have a serious impact on many members of bio communities, and they are transferred to the environment either directly or indirectly. Many organic UV filters are found to be accumulated in marine environments because of high values of the octanol/water partition coefficient. However, due to the fact that UV agents are not stable in water, unwanted by-products may be formed. Experimental studies or field observations have shown that organic UV filters tend to bioaccumulate in various aquatic animals, such as corals, algae, arthropods, mollusks, echinoderms, marine vertebrates. This review was conducted in order to understand the effects of UV agents on both the environment and marine biota. In vivo and in vitro studies of UV filters show a wide range of adverse effects on the environment and exposed organisms. Coral bleaching receives considerable attention, but the scientific data identify potential toxicities of endocrine, neurologic, neoplastic and developmental pathways. However, more controlled environmental studies and long-term human use data are limited. Several jurisdictions have prohibited specific UV filters, but this does not adequately address the dichotomy of the benefits of photoprotection vs lack of eco-friendly, safe, and approved alternatives.

Acute toxicity assessment of nine organic UV filters using a set of biotests

“…Limited biodegradation is due to the value of the octanol/water partition coefficient (Log K ow ). A value of Log K ow > 1 characterizes substances easily soluble in fatty solvents, while the value of Log K ow < 1 is typical for hydrophilic molecules [ 31 ]. Most of the organic UV filters tend to values of Log K ow > 4 demonstrating their ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms, and hence different chains of the trophic food webs.…”

New developments in sunscreens

“…Regarding the ecological aspects of sunscreens, in spite of not really safe UV filter for the nature at all, both TiO2 and ZnO in the non-nano forms (over 100 nm) are mainly recommended and they are extensively included as part of "ocean safe" and "reef safe" sunscreens. [40][41][42]. Since the 1990s, they have been used in nano form and recent EU regulations [43] establish a minimum particle size (nano forms) and prohibit their use in aerosols.…”

Review of Oxidative Dissolution and Sulfidation of Select Nanoparticles in the Environment: Impact on Applications

“…Additionally, they have been incorporated into gas sensors that allow for the detection of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and arsenate ions , and biosensors that detect gas markers in human breath to provide a disease diagnosis . Similar to Ag NPs, CuO NPs are incorporated into biomedical applications for their antimicrobial properties , and can catalyze the decomposition of organic pollutants in wastewater. − They have also found use as gas sensors to detect nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide and have been explored in agricultural applications since they can serve as nanofertilizers or nanopesticides due to their fungicidal and bactericidal properties. , ZnO NPs are most known for their presence in sunscreens and other cosmetics as they effectively block ultraviolet light waves. − Other common uses of ZnO NPs include the degradation of synthetic dyes in water, removal of heavy metals such as lead and chromium from water, , and incorporation into dye-sensitized solar cells for improved solar cell efficiency. , They have also been effective as nanofertilizers that promote plant growth and mitigate plant stress at low concentrations, although excessive application can lead to toxic effects on the plant and have negative consequences on the surrounding soil microbial communities. , Lastly, inorganic NPs, such as CdSe QDs, are popular in consumer products because of their tunable emission wavelength, high quantum yields, and greater photostability when compared with traditional organic dye molecules. For these reasons, QDs are often present in LED displays, − and they have been utilized for in vivo and in vitro biological imaging. − As another application, Cd-based QDs have been incorporated into biosensors that can detect mutation changes within DNA fragments for lung cancer diagnosis or for the detection of microRNAs that serve as cancer biomarkers for ovarian and prostate cancer .…”