ABSTRACT
The occurrence of UV-filters in the environment has raised concerns over potentially adverse impacts on corals. In this study, the concentrations of 13 UV-filters and 11 hormones were measured in surface seawater, sediment, and coral tissue from 19 sites in Oahu, Hawaii. At least eight UV-filters were detected in seawater, sediment, and coral tissue and total mass concentrations of all UV-filters were <750â¯ngâ¯L-1, <70â¯ngâ¯g-1 dry weight (dw), and <995â¯ngâ¯g-1 dw, respectively. Four UV-filters were detected in water, sediment, and coral tissue at detection frequencies of 63-100%, 56-91%, and 82-100%, respectively. These UV-filter concentrations generally varied as follows: water, homosalate (HMS)â¯>â¯octisalate (OS)â¯>â¯benzophenone-3 (BP-3, also known as oxybenzone)â¯>â¯octocrylene (OC); sediment, HMSâ¯>â¯OS > OCâ¯>â¯BP-3; coral, OS ≈ HMSâ¯>â¯OCâ¯≈â¯BP-3. BP-3 concentrations in surface seawater were <10â¯ngâ¯L-1 at 12 of 19 sites and highest at Waikiki beach (e.g., 10.9-136â¯ngâ¯L-1). While BP-3 levels were minimal in sediment (e.g., <1â¯ngâ¯g-1 dw at 18 of 19 sites), and ranged from 6.6 to 241â¯ngâ¯g-1 dw in coral tissue. No quantifiable levels of 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (also known as octinoxate) were recorded in surface seawater or coral tissues, but 5-12.7â¯ngâ¯g-1 dw was measured for sediment at 5 of 19 sites. No hormones were detected in seawater or sediment, but 17α-ethinylestradiol was present in three corals from Kaneohe Bay. Surfactant degradation products were present in seawater, especially at Waikiki beach. These results demonstrate ubiquitous parts-per-trillion concentrations of UV-filters in surface seawater and is the first report of UV-filters in coral tissue from U.S.A. coastal waters. These data inform the range of environmentally-relevant concentrations for future risk assessments on the potential impacts of UV-filters on coral reefs in Oahu, Hawaii.