Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health
Organic sun-blocking agents are recognized as emerging pollutants of the aquatic environment. The consequences and effects of these harmful substances on aquatic organisms are not fully understood, particularly in the context of Romania. This study examines the presence and environmental hazards pos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/945 |
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| author | Florinela Pirvu Iuliana Paun Ioana Antonia Cimpean Luoana Florentina Pascu Florentina Laura Chiriac |
| author_facet | Florinela Pirvu Iuliana Paun Ioana Antonia Cimpean Luoana Florentina Pascu Florentina Laura Chiriac |
| author_sort | Florinela Pirvu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Organic sun-blocking agents are recognized as emerging pollutants of the aquatic environment. The consequences and effects of these harmful substances on aquatic organisms are not fully understood, particularly in the context of Romania. This study examines the presence and environmental hazards posed by ten UV filters found in the Danube River. Six of the ten targeted contaminants were detected in surface water samples: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP-3), 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone (BP-1), 2,3,4-trihydroxy benzophenone (234HBP), 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP-8), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4′-methyl-benzophenone (BP-10), and benzyl salicylate (BS). In sediment samples, seven of the ten compounds were identified: BS, BP-3, 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4HBP), BP-1, 234HBP, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP-2), and BP-10, with different frequencies. The correlation coefficients showed strong relationships between benzophenone derivatives in surface water samples and a common contamination source for BP-3 and BS in sediment samples. In the assessment, the risk quotient (RQ) for BP-1 in fish was determined to be 1.81. Similarly, RQ values for BP-3 were calculated as 1.24 for <i>Daphnia magna</i> and 57 for fish, suggesting that these UV filters could potentially present substantial hazards to the aquatic ecosystem. The study findings indicate that additional research is needed to investigate the presence and potential risks of organic sun-blocking agents in surface waters, with a particular emphasis on densely populated areas in Romania. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf132050ce7240cbb3a12b62b8503cc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf132050ce7240cbb3a12b62b8503cc12024-04-12T13:27:00ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412024-03-0116794510.3390/w16070945Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem HealthFlorinela Pirvu0Iuliana Paun1Ioana Antonia Cimpean2Luoana Florentina Pascu3Florentina Laura Chiriac4National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, Drumul Podu Dambovitei 71-73, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, Drumul Podu Dambovitei 71-73, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, Drumul Podu Dambovitei 71-73, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, Drumul Podu Dambovitei 71-73, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, Drumul Podu Dambovitei 71-73, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, RomaniaOrganic sun-blocking agents are recognized as emerging pollutants of the aquatic environment. The consequences and effects of these harmful substances on aquatic organisms are not fully understood, particularly in the context of Romania. This study examines the presence and environmental hazards posed by ten UV filters found in the Danube River. Six of the ten targeted contaminants were detected in surface water samples: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP-3), 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone (BP-1), 2,3,4-trihydroxy benzophenone (234HBP), 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP-8), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4′-methyl-benzophenone (BP-10), and benzyl salicylate (BS). In sediment samples, seven of the ten compounds were identified: BS, BP-3, 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4HBP), BP-1, 234HBP, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP-2), and BP-10, with different frequencies. The correlation coefficients showed strong relationships between benzophenone derivatives in surface water samples and a common contamination source for BP-3 and BS in sediment samples. In the assessment, the risk quotient (RQ) for BP-1 in fish was determined to be 1.81. Similarly, RQ values for BP-3 were calculated as 1.24 for <i>Daphnia magna</i> and 57 for fish, suggesting that these UV filters could potentially present substantial hazards to the aquatic ecosystem. The study findings indicate that additional research is needed to investigate the presence and potential risks of organic sun-blocking agents in surface waters, with a particular emphasis on densely populated areas in Romania.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/945aquatic environmentendocrine disruptorsoccurrence monitoringrisk quotientsUV-filters |
| spellingShingle | Florinela Pirvu Iuliana Paun Ioana Antonia Cimpean Luoana Florentina Pascu Florentina Laura Chiriac Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health Water aquatic environment endocrine disruptors occurrence monitoring risk quotients UV-filters |
| title | Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health |
| title_full | Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health |
| title_fullStr | Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health |
| title_short | Presence and Distribution of Sun-Blocking Agents in the Danube River: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health |
| title_sort | presence and distribution of sun blocking agents in the danube river implications for aquatic ecosystem health |
| topic | aquatic environment endocrine disruptors occurrence monitoring risk quotients UV-filters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/945 |
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