Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in the environment: A review of analytical methods, occurrence, and human health impacts

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs), used extensively in both consumer and industrial products, are emerging pollutants of concern, of which, 2-(3, 5-di-tert-amyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole (UV-328) is currently listed under the Stockholm Convention. BUVSs have been detected widely in environmental and biological matrices; thus, they are accessible to humans via environmental exposure and dietary intake. Due to their bioaccumulation and toxicity, the requirements for environmental human health risk assessment led to the development of sensitive analytical methods for BUVSs. In this review, the analytical methods for BUVSs and metabolites in environmental and biological samples are summarized, mainly focusing on pretreatment techniques including liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction and gel permeation chromatography, as well as instrumental analysis with chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, the overall occurrence of BUVSs in environmental matrices and organisms is summarized, to discuss possible human exposures. Finally, the metabolism, toxicity, and human health impacts of BUVSs are overviewed.