Exploring the Hidden Threat of Organic UV Filters to Corals and Macroalgae in Coral Reef Ecosystem from Luhuitou, Sanya, China

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c11463
• Publication Date: 2025-03-21T03:57:57Z
• Authors: Lina Lyu; Jie Li; Qinyu Huang; Qing Liu; Cheng Yang; Junde Dong; Hongfei Su; Si Zhang
• Keywords: Coral reef organizations; Coral bleaching; Marine ecosystem

The widespread presence of organic UV filters (OUVFs) in coral reef ecosystems has attracted increasing attention. This study analyzed the concentrations and compositions OUVFs corals, macroalgae, sediments Luhuitou fringing ecosystem Sanya, China. detected included benzophenones-1, -2, -3, -8 (BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-8), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB), octocrylene (OC), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl dimethyl-p-aminobenzoic (ODPABA). total (∑8OUVFs) tissues macroalgae were found to be 4.3–52.0 8.0–29.0 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for BPs (including BP-1, BP-8) OC higher than those while BAFs 4-MBC ODPABA relatively lower. Preliminary risk assessment results indicated that, worst-case scenario, more 65 84% samples had BP-3 exceeding thresholds causing larval bleaching mortality, At same time, 99% showed related their growth inhibition. Therefore, posed significant ecological risks corals subsequently threatening health stability ecosystem.