TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative physicochemical properties and toxicity of organic UV filters and their photocatalytic transformation products
AU - Law, Japhet Cheuk-Fung
AU - Huang, Yanran
AU - Chow, Chi-Hang
AU - Lam, Tsz-Ki
AU - Leung, Kelvin Sze-Yin
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (HKBU 12303017 and 12302020 ) for their financial support. Kelvin S. –Y. Leung is grateful for funding support from the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen ( JCYJ20170817173243420 ). T. −K. Lam is supported by a postgraduate studentship offered by the University Grants Committee .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10/1
Y1 - 2021/10/1
N2 - Transformation products (TPs) of micropollutants contaminating our water resources have become an emerging issue due to the potential threats they pose to environmental and human health. This study investigated the transformation chemistry, toxicity, physicochemical properties and environmental behavior resulting from photocatalytic transformation of organic UV filters as model micropollutants. 3-Benzylidene camphor (3-BC), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HB) and octocrylene (OC) were effectively degraded by UV-A/TiO2 treatment, with TPs identified and characterized with high resolution mass spectrometry. Nitrated-TPs were observed to be formed in the presence of nitrite and nitrate for 3-BC and 4-HB, suggesting that the transformation process could be altered by components in the water matrix. Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition assay revealed an increase in toxicity of TPs derived from photocatalytic treatment, with quantitative structure-activity relationship model (ECOSAR) predicted an enhanced toxicity of individual TPs' after transformation. Assessment of physicochemical properties and environmental behavior suggested that TPs as compared to parent organic UV filters, may represent even greater hazards due to their increased water solubility, persistence and mobility – in addition to retaining the parent organic UV filter's toxicity. The results provide important information relevant to the potential risks for the selected organic UV filters, and their corresponding transformation products.
AB - Transformation products (TPs) of micropollutants contaminating our water resources have become an emerging issue due to the potential threats they pose to environmental and human health. This study investigated the transformation chemistry, toxicity, physicochemical properties and environmental behavior resulting from photocatalytic transformation of organic UV filters as model micropollutants. 3-Benzylidene camphor (3-BC), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HB) and octocrylene (OC) were effectively degraded by UV-A/TiO2 treatment, with TPs identified and characterized with high resolution mass spectrometry. Nitrated-TPs were observed to be formed in the presence of nitrite and nitrate for 3-BC and 4-HB, suggesting that the transformation process could be altered by components in the water matrix. Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition assay revealed an increase in toxicity of TPs derived from photocatalytic treatment, with quantitative structure-activity relationship model (ECOSAR) predicted an enhanced toxicity of individual TPs' after transformation. Assessment of physicochemical properties and environmental behavior suggested that TPs as compared to parent organic UV filters, may represent even greater hazards due to their increased water solubility, persistence and mobility – in addition to retaining the parent organic UV filter's toxicity. The results provide important information relevant to the potential risks for the selected organic UV filters, and their corresponding transformation products.
KW - Environmental fate
KW - Micropollutants
KW - Mobility
KW - Persistence
KW - Sunscreens
KW - Transformation pathway
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108122935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117551
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117551
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34438487
AN - SCOPUS:85108122935
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 286
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
M1 - 117551
ER -
