An analytical survey of benzotriazole UV stabilizers in plastic products and their endocrine-disrupting potential via human estrogen and androgen receptors

Benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVSs) are added to various materials to prevent damage from UV-irradiation. Recently, there has been great concern regarding the endocrine-disrupting effects of exposure to microplasticderivative BUVSs in particular. In this study, we measured the concentrations of nine representative BUVSs in the plastic bottle caps of 10 beverages, 4 food packages, and 4 plastic shopping bags purchased from Japanese grocery stores by GC-MS analysis, and found that eight BUVSs, except for 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole (UV-320), were detected from these plastic products. In particular, 2-(2-hydroxy-5methylphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-P) and 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole (UV-326) were detected from all the bottle caps at concentrations in the order of ng/g. In addition, we characterized the agonistic and/or antagonistic activities against human estrogen receptors (ER alpha/I3) and androgen receptor (AR) of 13 BUVSs. Results revealed that, among the 13 BUVSs, UV-P, 2-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-PS), 2-[2-hydroxy-5-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]phenyl]-2H-benzotriazole (UV-090) and 2(2-hydroxy-5-tert-octylphenyl)-benzotriazole (UV-329) showed ER alpha and/or ERI3 agonistic activity, with UV-P being the most potent based on these assays. On the other hand, UV-320 and 2-(3-s-butyl-5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-350) showed both ER alpha and ERI3 antagonistic activities, and 2-(3,5-di-tert- amyl-2-hydroxylphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-328) and UV-329 acted as ERI3 antagonists. In the AR assay, UV-P and 2-(3-allyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole (UV-9) showed AR antagonistic activity although none of the test compounds showed AR agonistic activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that a series of BUVSs are present in our environments via plastic materials and several of these compounds possess endocrine-disrupting potential, such as ER alpha/beta agonistic and/or antagonistic activity and AR antagonistic activity. UV-P and its structurally similar compounds, in particular, appear to be a cause for concern. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study measured the concentrations of nine representative BUVSs in plastic bottle caps, food packages, and plastic shopping bags purchased from Japanese grocery stores, and found that eight BUVSs were detected in these plastic products, with UV-P and UV-326 detected in all bottle caps at relatively high concentrations. Additionally, the study characterized the agonistic and/or antagonistic activities of 13 BUVSs against human estrogen receptors and androgen receptor, revealing potential endocrine-disrupting effects.