04 Aug More Evidence UV Filters in Sunscreens Affect Marine Life
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Adela J. Li, PhD
Research Affiliate
Wadsworth Center, Rm. D597
New York State Dept. of Health
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY, 12201-0509
On the behalf of Dr. Kelvin Leung
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Most people love the beach. In order to block the sun’s damaging UV radiation, people generally slather on a thick layer of sunscreen against sunburn and skin cancer. Sunscreen is suggested to be re-applied every few hours regarding its effectiveness as well as being washed off into the water. These UV filters have been detected in the environment but most studies concluded that individual sunscreen chemicals pose no/low risk to animals or human. However, UV filters constitute a heterogeneous group of chemicals in sunscreens. We are wondering if combination of UV filters would induce higher toxicity than individual compounds, and whether these chemical interactions would develop over time, becoming increasingly dangerous to the living systems.
Our study found seven of the nine UV filters in Shenzhen waters, China — a rapidly urbanized city with over 20 popular recreational beaches, surprisingly, a reservoir and tap water. After exposing artemia to three dominant UV filters and then feeding these artemia to zebrafish adults, concentrations in both were up to 4 times higher when exposed to the mixtures than when exposed to only a single UV filter. A short-term of 25-day dietary exposure to the zebrafish adults did not appear to significantly influence early life stage development of the second generation; however, relatively long exposure over 47 days had significant adverse effects on embryo development.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Humans are benefiting from the wearing of sunscreen to protect against sunburn and skin cancer. At the same time, we should consider how those artificial UV filters affect living animals and even human health. UV filters are referred as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Our study showed that UV filters can be transferred through food chain (artemia to zebrafish), and consequently affect early development of zebrafish embryo.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: Our study clearly shows that UV filters are adversely affecting early life-stage zebrafish. Comprehensive evaluation of the complex effects UV filters—and their mixtures—are having on aquatic environments as well as human health should be undertaken. With knowledge, appropriate actions can be taken to curtail their potentially damaging effects.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: We all live in a single earth. It is still a challenge to balance human requirements and sustainable development of the earth. Sunscreen chemicals, being endocrine disruptors, should be paid more attention at their wide applications, especially some toxic ones.
Citation:
Joint Effects of Multiple UV Filters on Zebrafish Embryo Development
Adela Jing Li, Japhet Cheuk-Fung Law, Chi-Hang Chow, Yanran Huang, Kaibin Li, and Kelvin Sze-Yin Leung
Environ. Sci. Technol., Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable)
Publication Date (Web):August 1, 2018 (Article)
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02418
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Last Updated on August 4, 2018 by Marie Benz MD FAAD