The occurrence of UV filters in natural and drinking water in São Paulo State (Brazil)

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in the formulation of personal care products (PCPs) to prevent damage to the skin, lips, and hair caused by excessive UV radiation. Therefore, large amounts of these substances are released daily into the aquatic environment through either recreational activities or the release of domestic sewage. The concern regarding the presence of such substances in the environment and the exposure of aquatic organisms is based on their potential for bioaccumulation and their potential as endocrine disruptors. Although there are several reports regarding the occurrence and fate of UV filters in the aquatic environment, these compounds are still overlooked in tropical areas. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of the organic UV filters benzophenone-3 (BP-3), ethylhexyl salicylate (ES), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), and octocrylene (OC) in six water treatment plants in various cities in Southeast Brazil over a period of 6 months to 1 year. All of the UV filters studied were detected at some time during the sampling period; however, only EHMC and BP-3 were found in quantifiable concentrations, ranging from 55 to 101 and 18 to 115 ng L(-1), respectively. Seasonal variation of BP-3 was most clearly noticed in the water treatment plant in Araraquara, São Paulo, where sampling was performed for 12 months. BP-3 was not quantifiable in winter but was quantifiable in summer. The levels of BP-3 were in the same range in raw, treated and chlorinated water, indicating that the compound was not removed by the water treatment process.

Contaminantes emergentes em matrizes aquáticas do Brasil: cenário atual e aspectos analíticos, ecotoxicológicos e regulatórios

“…em amostras de água tratada coletadas em cidades do interior do estado de São Paulo empregando Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas sequencial (GC-MS/MS). 25 Rissato e colaboradores determinaram 6 pesticidas organoclorados (BHC, aldrim, dieldrin, DDT, endossulfan e heptaclor) em amostras de água tratada da cidade de Bauru (SP) em concentrações que variaram entre 8 e 33 ng L -1 utilizando cromatografia gasosa de alta resolução com detector de captura de elétrons (HRGC-ECD), o qual apresenta detectabilidade adequada à análise de resíduos de compostos voláteis ou semi-voláteis, como são esses analitos de interesse. 30 E, finalmente, Stumpf e colaboradores, em seu trabalho pioneiro para o Brasil, determinaram 15 DBP incluindo compostos neutros e ácidos em concentrações entre 100 e 41000 ng L -1 empregando GC-ECD, e determinou EDTA em concentrações de 2000 ng L -1 empregando cromatografia gasosa com detector de nitrogênio-fósforo (GC-NPD) em amostras de água tratada oriunda da Lagoa de Juturnaíba na Região dos Lagos (RJ).…”

Emerging Contaminants in Trans-American Waters

“…In a study done in Morro Redondo, Brazil, 14 of the 16 ECs studied were detected in drinking water samples; one of the most concentrated compounds was atrazine (Maximum: 92.3 ngL -1 ) (Caldas et al, 2013). Another study conducted at 6 DWTPs in the state of São Paulo found 6 UV filters (da Silva et al, 2015). A national survey conducted in Brazil found 4 of the 16 ECs in drinking water; the most frequent being atrazine (Medium: 6.5 ngL -1 , Maximum: 24 ngL -1 , 75%) and caffeine (Medium: 146 ngL -1 , Maximum: 2.77 μgL -1 , 93%) (Machado et al, 2016).…”

Effect of Activated Sludge on the Degradation of 2-Ethylhexyl 4-Methoxycinnamate and 2-Ethylhexyl 4-(Dimethylamino)Benzoate in Wastewater

“…Chemical UV filters get directly into the environment as a result of washing away from the skin, washing clothes, while practicing water sports, as well as indirectly with municipal or industrial wastewater. These compounds have been identified as impurities in wastewater (Plagellat et al 2006;Moeder et al 2010;Zhang et al 2011;Tsui et al 2014a;Ekpeghere et al 2016), lakes (Poiger et al 2004;Balmer et al 2005), and rivers (Fent et al 2010) at levels of ng L −1 and μg L −1 even in tap water (Díaz-Cruz et al 2012;da Silva et al 2015). Because they are applied as ingredients of shampoos, creams, and other personal protection products, they are found in both urban and rural wastewater and have also been identified in industrial wastewater.…”