Schaap, I.

An environmental risk assessment of three organic UV-filters at Lac Bay, Bonaire, Southern Caribbean

Highlights

• UV filters oxybenzone and octocrylene are detected at Lac Bay Bonaire.

• They are present at significant levels in both water column and surface microlayer.

• Predicted concentrations of oxybenzone are in line with measured concentrations.

• Risk assessment revealed environmental risk to Lac Bay's ecosystems.

Abstract

Although organic UV filters (OUVFs) benefit human health by preventing skin burns and cancer, several studies revealed that organic UV filters can induce developmental and reproductive toxicity to aquatic organisms. Discharge of OUVFs occurs predominantly at marine recreational hotspots, such as Lac Bay, Bonaire, and is predicted to increase significantly due to growing tourism worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no insight what the current and future discharge of OUVF at Lac Bay is. Therefore, this study aimed to 1) measure concentrations and estimate the risk of specific OUVFs to different nursery habitats at Lac Bay, and 2) compare measured and predicted concentration based risk assessment outcome. Results showed that at least one of the three nurseries at Lac Bay had a potential for adverse effects. Furthermore, predicted environmental concentrations of UV filter discharge can be applied to gain more insight in the order of extent of OUVF discharge by marine tourism.

Date
2018
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire

UV- filters in sun care products as an emerging risk for Caribbean coral reefs

Researchers from the Wageningen Marine Research, under the leadership of water quality specialist and ecologist Dr. Diana Slijkerman, have been working on the question whether sun care products are an emerging risk for marine life in the Caribbean. More specifically, UV-filters in sunscreen, such as Oxybenzone, were subject of study since these were recently reported to be of serious concern for corals.

This news article was published in BioNews 2-2017.

BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Date
2017
Data type
Media
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Bonaire