Organic UV filters: Occurrence, risks and (anti-)progestogenic activities in samples from the Czech aquatic environment and their bioaccumulation in fish

The occurrence, environmental risks and contribution of organic UV filters to detected (anti-) progestogenic activities were examined in samples of wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents, various surface waters and fish from The Czech Republic. Of the 20 targeted UV filters, 15 were detected in the WWTP influent samples, 11 in the effluents, and 13 in the surface water samples. Benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, and phenyl benzimidazole sulfonic acid (PBSA) were found in all water samples. Octocrylene, UV-327 and 4-methylbenziledene camphor exceeded the risk quotient of 1 at some sites. In the anti-progestogenic CALUX assay, 10 out of the 20 targeted UV filters were active. Anti-progestogenic activities reaching up to 7.7ng/L, 3.8ng/L, and 4.5ng/L mifepristone equivalents were detected in influents, effluents, and surface waters, respectively. UV filters were responsible for up to 37% of anti-progestogenic activities in influents. Anti-progestogenic activities were also measured in fish tissues from the control pond and Podroužek (pond with the highest number of detected UV filters) and ranged from 2.2 to 9.5 and 1.9 to 8.6ng/g dw mifepristone equivalents, respectively. However, only benzophenone was found in fish, but it does not display anti-progestogenic activity and thus could not explain the observed activities. Environmental Implication UV filters are increasingly recognized as environmental pollutants exerting endocrine-disrupting activities. We systematically assessed the occurrence of 20 organic UV filters and their contribution to detected anti-progestogenic activities in the aquatic environment and fish tissues. We found that UV filters contributed considerably to anti-progestogenic activities in influents but not in effluents of WWTPs, surface waters and fish tissues. Three compounds were omnipresent. Other three UV filters were identified as compounds that may pose a risk to the aquatic ecosystem based on risk prioritization.