Organic UV filters and their photodegradates, metabolites and disinfection by-products in the aquatic environment

Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are compounds used to absorb UV radiation and are increasingly being used as a result of growing concern about UV radiation and skin cancer. Their growing use may increase environmental contamination and exposure through the food chain. There is therefore major concern about the environmental fate and potential effect of organic UV filters used in beauty creams, hair sprays, shampoos, and other personal-care products, as well as those added to plastics and other materials to prevent degradation of polymers and pigments. This review describes the processes undergone by these compounds once released into the environment and the instrumental methods based on chromatography and mass spectrometry reported in the literature for their determination in environmental samples. We include concentrations found in the environment (e.g., water, soil, sediments, sludge and biota). The main focus is on metabolites, photodegradates and by-products of wastewater treatment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.