Occurrence and Fate of Benzophenone-Type UV Filters in a Tropical Urban Watershed

The study investigated the occurrence and fate of seven benzophenone-type UV filters (i.e., 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (2,4OH-BP), 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (2,2′,4,4′OH-BP), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2OH-4MeO-BP), 2,2′-Dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone (2,2′OH-4,4′MeO-BP), 2,2′-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2,2′OH-4MeO-BP), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4OH-BP), and 4,4′-dihyroxybenzophenone (4DHB)) in a tropical urban watershed consisting of five major tributaries that discharge into a well-managed basin. Total benzophenone concentrations (∑CBPs) varied from 19−230.8 ng L–1 in overlying bulk water, 48–115 ng L–1 in pore water, 295–5813 ng g–1 dry weight (d.w.) in suspended solids, and 6−37 ng g–1 d.w. in surficial sediments, respectively. The tributaries (∑CBPs: 19–231 ng L–1) were the main source of benzophenone compounds entering the basin (∑CBPs: 20–81 ng L–1). In the water column, the vertical concentration profile in the aqueous phase was uniform while concentrations in the suspended solids decreased with depth. Different distribution profiles were also identified for benzophenones in suspended solids and sediments. A preliminary risk assessment suggested that the seven BPs were unlikely to pose ecotoxicological risks to local aquatic organisms except for 2OH-4MeO-BP in the case of an intermittent release.