Monitoring of Organic ultraviolet Filters and Stabilizers Adsorb in Microplastics from Beaches of the Macaronesia

Abstract

Organic ultraviolet filters (UVFs) and stabilizers (UVSs) are a group of emerging pollutants present in marine and coastal waters. These contaminants have been described as bioaccumulative, pseudopersistent and toxic; therefore, it is of great importance to investigate them and determine their presence and distribution in the environment. They can be adsorbed to the microplastics present in the marine environment, being able to travel great distances in the ocean. In this way, the harmful effect of microplastic is combined with that of these micropollutants, being able to affect areas in which there are no direct sources of contamination of said contaminants. In this study, the occurrence of UVFs and UVSs was monitored during two years in microplastics samples recollected from beaches of the Macaronesia. An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass detection (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied. Several of these pollutants were identified and quantified with concentrations in the range of ng⋅g-1. Furthermore, in specific samples high concentrations were obtained even up to 5176.45 ng⋅g-1.