Analysis of UV filters and UV stabilisers adsorbed in microplastics from Canary islands beaches

Abstract

The presence of plastic and microplastic residues in the ocean is an environmental problem that has gained great attention last years. They reach to the environment from the fragmentation of larger plastics, microparticles coming from cosmetic products, synthetic fibers generated during washing laundry and resin pellets from the plastic industry lost during production [1] Apart from the damage that microplastic ingestion can exert in marine organisms, the pollutants that they can contain may involve another risk associated to these anthropogenic materials. Many organic compounds can be adsorbed onto the surface of microplastics because of their hydrophilic behavior; for example, ingredients added to personal care products such as sunscreens. Therefore, microplastics can act as vectors of pollution [2-4]. A methodology based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection was developed and applied to determine 12 UV filters and UV stabilisers in microplastics. The analyses of samples taken in 13 sand beaches from the Canary Islands revealed the presence of 10 of the target compounds at concentrations between 1 and 4031 ng·g-1. The UV filter octocrylene highlighted for its detection frequency (85% of the samples). Although the source of the microplastic could be far away and be transported by the Canary Current, the detection of high concentrations of these compounds in coast of Canary Islands could be related with its great touristic pressure.