title: Widespread occurrence of estrogenic UV-filters in aquatic ecosystems in Switzerland.
abstract: We performed a trace analytical study covering nine hormonally active UV-filters by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS in river water and biota. Water was analysed at 10 sites above and below wastewater treatment plants in the river Glatt using polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). Four UV-filters occurred in the following order of decreasing concentrations; benzophenone-4 (BP-4) > benzophenone-3 (BP-3) > 3-(4-methyl)benzylidene-camphor (4-MBC) > 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-trimethoxycinnamate (EHMC). BP-4 ranged from 0.27 to 24.0 microg/POCIS, BP-3, 4-MBC and EHMC up to 0.1 microg/POCIS. Wastewater was the most important source. Levels decreased with higher river water flow. No significant in-stream removal occurred. BP-3, 4-MBC and EHMC were between 6 and 68 ng/L in river water. EHMC was accumulated in biota. In all 48 macroinvertebrate and fish samples from six rivers lipid-weighted EHMC occurred up to 337 ng/g, and up to 701 ng/g in 5 cormorants, suggesting food-chain accumulation. UV-filters are found to be ubiquitous in aquatic systems.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences (FHNW), School of Life Sciences, Gründenstrasse 40, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland. karl.fent@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fent
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenker
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapp
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D004967:Estrogens / Q000819:agonists*; D005374:Filtration; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020387:Food Chain; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013557:Switzerland; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C519637:2-ethylhexyl 2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate; D001577:Benzophenones; D002934:Cinnamates; D004967:Estrogens; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical