Occurrence and distribution of UV-filters and other anthropogenic contaminants in coastal surface water, sediment, and coral tissue from Hawaii

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 670; pp. 398 - 410
• Main Authors: Mitchelmore, Carys L., He, Ke, Gonsior, Michael, Hain, Ethan, Heyes, Andrew, Clark, Cheryl, Younger, Rick, Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe, Feerick, Anna, Conway, Annaleise, Blaney, Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.06.2019
• Subjects: Acrylates; Animals; Anthozoa; Benzophenones; Coral; Coral Reefs; Environmental Monitoring; Hawaii; Hormones; Octinoxate; Oxybenzone; Salicylates; Seawater - chemistry; Sunscreen; Sunscreening Agents - analysis; UV-filters; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Hawaii; Oxybenzone; UV-filters; Hormones; Octinoxate; Sunscreen; Coral
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.034

The occurrence of UV-filters in the environment has raised concerns over potentially adverse impacts on corals. In this study, the concentrations of 13 UV-filters and 11 hormones were measured in surface seawater, sediment, and coral tissue from 19 sites in Oahu, Hawaii. At least eight UV-filters were detected in seawater, sediment, and coral tissue and total mass concentrations of all UV-filters were <750 ng L−1, <70 ng g−1 dry weight (dw), and <995 ng g−1 dw, respectively. Four UV-filters were detected in water, sediment, and coral tissue at detection frequencies of 63–100%, 56–91%, and 82–100%, respectively. These UV-filter concentrations generally varied as follows: water, homosalate (HMS) > octisalate (OS) > benzophenone-3 (BP-3, also known as oxybenzone) > octocrylene (OC); sediment, HMS > OS > OC > BP-3; coral, OS ≈ HMS > OC ≈ BP-3. BP-3 concentrations in surface seawater were <10 ng L−1 at 12 of 19 sites and highest at Waikiki beach (e.g., 10.9–136 ng L−1). While BP-3 levels were minimal in sediment (e.g., <1 ng g−1 dw at 18 of 19 sites), and ranged from 6.6 to 241 ng g−1 dw in coral tissue. No quantifiable levels of 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (also known as octinoxate) were recorded in surface seawater or coral tissues, but 5–12.7 ng g−1 dw was measured for sediment at 5 of 19 sites. No hormones were detected in seawater or sediment, but 17α-ethinylestradiol was present in three corals from Kaneohe Bay. Surfactant degradation products were present in seawater, especially at Waikiki beach. These results demonstrate ubiquitous parts-per-trillion concentrations of UV-filters in surface seawater and is the first report of UV-filters in coral tissue from U.S.A. coastal waters. These data inform the range of environmentally-relevant concentrations for future risk assessments on the potential impacts of UV-filters on coral reefs in Oahu, Hawaii. [Display omitted] •First report of UV-filters in coral tissue from a USA coral reef.•At least 8 UV-filters detected in matched surface seawater, sediment and coral tissue from 19 sites in Oahu, Hawaii.•UV-filter concentrations in the parts per trillion (ng L-1) in surface seawater and in ng g-1 dw. in sediment and corals.•Octinoxate, 11 hormones and sucralose were not detected in surface seawater but surfactant degradation products were.•Overall highest UV-filter concentrations in all matrices were for homoslate and octisalate.