Sun filters on the Canteras beach: before and after the Covid-19

Abstract

UV filters (UVFs) and UV stabilisers (UVSs) are emerging pollutants (EPs) frequently used in personal care products (PCPs), like creams, cosmetics or sunscreens, to protect the skin from radiation. Some of these compounds have been classified as toxic, bioaccumulative and persistent in the environment, therefore, it is imperative to study and determine their presence and how they are distributed in the ecosystems. In this study, a fifteen-month monitorization was carried out to determine twelve UVFs and UVSs in different matrices of the coast of Bahía del Confital in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) in order to observe the presence and distribution of these pollutants to compare the changes in the selected compounds from the past confinement by COVID-19 to the present day and show how the use of these PCPs could promote the increase of their presence in the environment. Seawater, sediments and algae were sampled along the coast of Bahía del Confital at eight different locations. Extraction methods based on solid phase extraction (SPE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with mass detection (UHPLC MS/MS) were used to quantify the analytes in the liquid and solid samples. Target UVFs and BUVS were measured in water, sediment and algae at concentrations in the ranges of 3.50-56.1 ng/L, 0.64-368 ng/g and 0.06-601 ng/g, respectively. The compounds studied had different trends of occurrence in liquid and solid samples due to their octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). Most of the positive samples with highest concentrations corresponded to the areas of the beach where there was more tourist activity and bathers. The obtained results showed an increase in the presence of these compounds as the population was allowed to use the beach.