Adverse effects of UV light protection compounds on marine organisms

Abstract

The growing use of ultraviolet (UV) light protection compounds on a wide range of personal care products (PCPs), plastics, industrial products and textiles has turned them on chemicals of emerging concern, especially for marine habitats. UV compounds can reach marine habitat directly and indirectly via recreational bathing activities or trough discharge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) respectively. The high bioavailability of these compounds makes them hazardous for marine organisms. It has been demonstrated the production of adverse effects of UV compounds on a wide range of marine organisms, from viruses to marine mammals, such as inhibition of body growth and weight, toxicity effects, disturbance on reproduction system, endocrine disruption properties or bleaching on corals. Due to the liphophility, persistence and stability of UV compounds, they bioaccumulate on different species of marine organisms and biomagnificate through food chain via predator-prey interactions. This converts them into harmful contaminants for human health, especially in countries with a high consumption of marine organisms, making necessary a study of their presence on food from local markets. The purpose of this work is to summarize the adverse effects that UV light protection compounds can produce on marine organisms, their capacity to bioaccumulate and biomagnificate on different species and their toxicity and risk for each type of organism