Organic UV filters are frequently used in daily life, and hence are ubiquitously detected in the aquatic environment worldwide. Most monitoring efforts and toxicological studies are, however, limited to a few chemicals like benzophenone-3 (BP-3). In the present study, we chose other major organic UV filters, such as avobenzone (AVB), homosalate (HS), octisalate (OS), and octocrylene (OC), and reviewed information on their use, environmental occurrences, and endocrine disruption effects, available to date. Organic UV filters are used in high volume in many consumer applications, not only in sunscreen products but also in cosmetics, personal care products, home products, and food packaging. Environmental monitoring worldwide reveals that recreational coastal waters are among the hot spots of their contamination. An increasing number of experimental studies indicate that organic UV filters such as octinoxate (OMC), AVB, and HS may cause disruptions in sex hormones. Avobenzene and OMC can also influence thyroid function in experimental models. Observations in human population are rarely made, but OMC and OC have been associated with decreased androgenicity and increase of polycystic ovary syndrome, respectively. Further investigations are warranted to fill the knowledge gaps identified in the present study, to help develop relevant safety screening measures for organic UV filters. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:940-950. © 2021 SETAC.
Keywords: Aquatic ecosystem; Endocrine disruption; Human population; Thyroid; UV filters.
© 2021 SETAC.