Although the negative effects of inorganic UV filters have been documented on several marine organisms, sunscreen products containing such filters are available in the market and proposed as eco-friendly substitutes for harmful, and already banned, organic UV filters (e.g. octinoxate and oxybenzone). In the present study, we investigated the effects of four sunscreen products, labelled by cosmetic companies as “eco-friendly”, on the early developmental stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a keystone species occurring in vulnerable coastal habitats. Among sunscreens tested, those containing ZnO and TiO2 or their mix caused severe impacts on sea urchin embryos. We show that inorganic UV filters were incorporated by larvae during their development and, despite the activation of defence strategies (e.g. phagocytosis by coelomocytes), generated anomalies such as skeletal malformations and tissue necrosis. Conversely, the sunscreen product containing only new-generation organic UV filters (e.g. methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethyl, ethylhexyl triazone, butylphenol diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate) did not affect sea urchins, thus resulting actually eco-compatible. Our findings expand information on the impact of inorganic UV filters on marine life, corroborate the need to improve the eco-friendliness assessment of sunscreen products and warn of the risk of bioaccumulation and potential biomagnification of inorganic UV filters along the marine food chain.

Inorganic UV filter-based sunscreens labelled as eco-friendly threaten sea urchin populations / Marcellini, F.; Varrella, S.; Ghilardi, M.; Barucca, G.; Giorgetti, A.; Danovaro, R.; Corinaldesi, C.. - In: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. - ISSN 0269-7491. - 351:(2024). [10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124093]

Inorganic UV filter-based sunscreens labelled as eco-friendly threaten sea urchin populations

Marcellini F.;Varrella S.;Ghilardi M.;Barucca G.;Giorgetti A.;Danovaro R.;Corinaldesi C.
2024-01-01

Abstract

Although the negative effects of inorganic UV filters have been documented on several marine organisms, sunscreen products containing such filters are available in the market and proposed as eco-friendly substitutes for harmful, and already banned, organic UV filters (e.g. octinoxate and oxybenzone). In the present study, we investigated the effects of four sunscreen products, labelled by cosmetic companies as “eco-friendly”, on the early developmental stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a keystone species occurring in vulnerable coastal habitats. Among sunscreens tested, those containing ZnO and TiO2 or their mix caused severe impacts on sea urchin embryos. We show that inorganic UV filters were incorporated by larvae during their development and, despite the activation of defence strategies (e.g. phagocytosis by coelomocytes), generated anomalies such as skeletal malformations and tissue necrosis. Conversely, the sunscreen product containing only new-generation organic UV filters (e.g. methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethyl, ethylhexyl triazone, butylphenol diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate) did not affect sea urchins, thus resulting actually eco-compatible. Our findings expand information on the impact of inorganic UV filters on marine life, corroborate the need to improve the eco-friendliness assessment of sunscreen products and warn of the risk of bioaccumulation and potential biomagnification of inorganic UV filters along the marine food chain.
2024
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Marcellini_Inorganic-UV-filter-based-sunscreens_2024.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Versione .pdf
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza d'uso: Creative commons
Dimensione 4.55 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.55 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11566/336544
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact