UV filters used in sunscreens - a lack in current coral protection?

UV filters used in sunscreens are amongst the anthropogenic substances that may enter the marine environment by both indirect (via wastewater) and direct pathways (leisure activities). Due to the recent global decline in coral population, the impact of those UV filters on the coral health is currently under increased investigation. First results from scientists suggest that some of the filters may be toxic to various coral life stages, but an initial cross comparison with existing data from other freshwater organisms does not indicate that corals are specifically more susceptible to UV filters than other standard species. In fact, the available data for this conclusion is still vague and based on toxicity and bioaccumulation tests with corals, which are both at the research state. To allow for a proper hazard assessment, robust experimental procedures for coral ecotoxicological studies are considered mandatory. In other words, additional efforts should be taken to standardize and validate such new test systems to generate reliable results, which then may be used in regulatory decision making. Furthermore, to allow for a more detailed and site-specific environmental risk assessment in the marine area, the development of an application-based exposure scenario is urgently needed. Until these data and tools become available, environmental hazard and risk assessments may be carried out using existing data from freshwater organisms and existing tonnage-based exposure scenarios as a potential surrogate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.