Herbicide and nitrate pollution frequently co-occur in coastal waters, while their combined effect on corals has been a critical knowledge gap. Although corals can exhibit acclimation to nitrate enrichment, it is unclear whether this acclimation persists under coexposure to PSII herbicides. Here, we investigated the combined effects of nitrate and the PSII herbicide prometryn on the reef-building coralAcropora hyacinthusby integrating physiology, ultrastructure, and host-symbiont multiomics. The results demonstrate that prometryn acts as the primary driver of photodamage and photosynthetic toxicity in the symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae under costress. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that prometryn induced activated symbiophagy and chloroplast degradation with loosely stacked thylakoids in Symbiodiniaceae. Transcriptomics and proteomics analyses predicted that nitrate enrichment stimulated host glutathione-based antioxidant responses. However, prometryn-induced phototoxicity impaired photosynthate supply and disrupted this nitrate acclimation mechanism. Moreover, reduced photosynthate transfer further impaired the host energy balance and intensified oxidative stress. These findings show that PSII herbicides can override short-term acclimation to nitrate enrichment, underscoring the need for the joint regulation of herbicide and nutrient inputs in reef ecosystems.

The decline of natural coral reefs has spurred interest in artificial reef construction and reef rehabilitation efforts. However, many restoration programs are failing because of poor water quality and localized pollution factors. This paper examines one etiology of coral restoration failure, highlighting the need for careful site selection based on hydrodynamic, biological, and pollution criteria. Using Kish Island as a case study, we outline a procedure for determining placement of artificial reefs to minimize external pollution impacts, which could be applied to any reef site worldwide. Our integration of computational modeling and geographic information systems enables the tracking of pollution dispersion and increases the power of restoration efforts. The RQ Plume modeling, used alongside compound pollutant modeling, can identify hotspots with the highest potential to degrade marine environments, particularly reefs. Conservation efforts should prioritize pollution mitigation, as seen in the case of sunscreen pollutants at Kish Island, where regulatory action and public education can contribute to reef protection. This comprehensive approach underscores the critical role of water quality in successful reef restoration and conservation strategies.

The Lahaina urban/wildland fire event is considered the deadliest wildfire in the past century of U.S. history. This fire resulted in over 2200 building structures destroyed or damaged, approximately 4000 automobiles were incinerated and between 450 and 878 ha of grassland burned in areas adjoining the town of Lahaina, Maui County, State of Hawaii, U.S.A. One of the most abundant contaminants of both wildland and urban fires is the incomplete combustion product, benzo[a]pyrene. a ]pyrene. Pentachlorophenol from burned and unburned utility poles/ residential burn sites enter into navigable waters, thus posing a serious risk to the water quality of coastal waters. The Risk Quotient Plumes for benzo[a]pyrene a ]pyrene and pentachlorophenol, mobilized from Lahaina into coastal waters were calculated based on a hydrodynamic analysis and an integrated ecological risk assessment. This plume was simulated using rainfall events in November 2022 as a proxy for the first major rainfall event expected in Lahaina in 2024. The models indicated that the estimated levels of benzo[a]pyrene a ]pyrene and pentachlorophenol posed a risk to near shore habitants within 2 km of Lahaina. The levels of pentachlorophenol were more widespread than benzo[a]pyrene a ]pyrene and were predicted to pose a hazard to marine life as far away as Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District and 'Ahihi-K & imath;na'u hihi-K & imath;na'u Natural Area Reserve. Fisheries species captured near these areas should be tested for consumption safety.

From March to June 2020, governments across the world imposed lockdowns in an attempt to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic. This period of time in which human activity slowed worldwide has been coined the “Anthropause”. The goal of this study was to determine if sunscreen pollution abated during the Anthropause and to identify the severity of the pollution when tourism/recreation recovered at two coastal units of the U.S. National Park System: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park in Hawaiʻi, U.S.A. and Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, U.S.A. Active ingredients of sunscreen products were measured in water and sand samples at both locations, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate, and relevant breakdown products of some of these ingredients. A risk assessment was conducted on Anthropause and post-Anthropause contaminant levels for both locations to determine if there was a threat reduction during the Anthropause, and whether tourism recovery in the post-Anthropause period served as a threat to coastal wildlife. Both national park units exhibited an almost absolute reduction in the levels of sunscreen contamination during the Anthropause period, a striking commonality considering the geographic expanse separating the parks. Once travel restrictions were lifted, a large influx of tourists ensued at both locations, resulting in a relatively sudden and dangerous increase in the levels of sunscreen chemical pollution. This study supports the argument that unmanaged tourism is a source of coastal sunscreen pollution that poses a threat to the localized continuity of species populations and biodiversity, especially to coral reefs and fisheries.

Coral reefs globally face unprecedented challenges from anthropogenic stressors, necessitating innovative approaches for effective assessment and management. Molecular biomarkers, particularly those related to protein expressions, provide a promising avenue for diagnosing coral health at the cellular level. This study employed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to evaluate stress responses in the coral Porites lobata along an environmental gradient in Maunalua Bay, Hawaii. The results revealed distinct protein expression patterns correlating with anthropogenic stressor levels across the bay. Some proteins, such as ubiquitin and Hsp70, emerged as sensitive biomarkers, displaying a linear decrease in response along the environmental gradient, emphasizing their potential as indicators of stress. Our findings highlighted the feasibility of using protein biomarkers for real-time assessment of coral health and the identification of stressors. The identified biomarkers can aid in establishing stress thresholds and evaluating the efficacy of management interventions. Additionally, we assessed sediment and water quality from the inshore areas in the bay and identified organic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides, in bay sediments and waters.

Global warming has caused the degradation of coral reefs around the world. While stress-tolerant corals have demonstrated the ability to acclimatize to ocean warming, it remains unclear whether they can sustain their thermal resilience when superimposed with other coastal environmental stressors. We report the combined impacts of a photosystem II (PSII) herbicide, prometryn, and ocean warming on the stress-tolerant coral Galaxea fascicularis through physiological and omics analyses. The results demonstrate that the heat-stress-induced inhibition of photosynthetic efficiency in G. fascicularis is exacerbated in the presence of prometryn. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses indicate that the prometryn exposure may overwhelm the photosystem repair mechanism in stress-tolerant corals, thereby compromising their capacity for thermal acclimation. Moreover, prometryn might amplify the adverse effects of heat stress on key energy and nutrient metabolism pathways and induce a stronger response to oxidative stress in stress-tolerant corals. The findings indicate that the presence of prometryn at environmentally relevant concentrations would render corals more susceptible to heat stress and exacerbate the breakdown of coral Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis. The present study provides valuable insights into the necessity of prioritizing PSII herbicide pollution reduction in coral reef protection efforts while mitigating the effects of climate change.

The broad-spectrum UV filter oxybenzone is toxic to plantsat environmentallyrelevant concentrations. Lysine acetylation (LysAc) is one of theessential post-translational modifications (PTMs) in plant signalingresponses. The goal of this study was to uncover the LysAc regulatorymechanism in response to toxic exposures to oxybenzone as a firststep in elucidating xenobiotic acclimatory reactions by using themodel Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis. A total of 6124 sites on 2497 proteins were acetylated,63 proteins were differentially abundant, and 162 proteins were differentiallyacetylated under oxybenzone treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showedthat a large number of antioxidant proteins were significantly acetylatedunder oxybenzone treatment, implying that LysAc alleviated the adverseeffects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inducing antioxidant systemsand stress-related proteins; the significant changes in acetylationmodification of enzymes involved in different branches of carbon metabolismin plants under oxybenzone treatment mean that plants can change thedirection of carbon flow allocation by regulating the activities ofcarbon metabolism-related enzymes. Our results profile the proteinLysAc under oxybenzone treatment and propose an adaptive mechanismat the post-translational level of vascular plants in response topollutants, providing a dataset reference for future related research.

Common chemicals in sunscreen pose risks to corals and a wide range of other coastal species. To fulfill natural resource protection mandates, government agencies promote voluntary sun protection behaviors (SPBs) that protect human health while limiting chemical pollution. Yet little research on this topic exists to help inform program design. This article addresses that gap by identifying relevant behavioral barriers and associated interventions that agencies should consider in developing research-based public sun protection programs to lower environmental impacts. Natural resource managers can increase the effectiveness of their programs and outreach by adopting those that reduce informational complexity, impart ways social norms are changing, provide sunscreen product information at the time of the decision, and take steps to increase the probability of spillover of new behaviors to other locations.

Oxybenzone, an environmental pollutant affecting both agriculture and aquatic ecological integrity, has been demonstrated to act as a physiological and metabolic inhibitor on plants, animals, and microorganisms. Research on oxybenzone in higher plants has focused on the above-ground anatomy (leaves), while research on the under-ground parts (roots) has been neglected. In this study, the changes in plant root protein expression and metabolic pathways under oxybenzone treatment were explored through a combined proteomics and metabolomics analysis. A total of 506 differential proteins and 96 differential metabolites were identified, which were mainly distributed in critical pathways such as those for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism, lipid metabolism, and antioxidation. Bioinformatics analysis shows that oxybenzone toxicity is predominantly reflected in alterations to root respiratory homeostasis and the manifestation of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane lipid peroxidation, changes to disease resistance-associated proteins, changes to normal C-flow distribution, and the inhibition of cell absorption and utilization of N sources. Plants respond to oxybenzone stress mainly by reconfiguring the mitochondrial electron-transport-chain to bypass oxidative-damage components; improving the efficiency of the antioxidant system to remove excessively accumulated ROS; promoting the detoxification of harmful membrane lipid peroxides; increasing osmotic adjustment substance (such as proline and raffinose) accumulation; adjusting C flow distribution to produce more nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for the glutathione cycle; and accumulating free amino acids to increase plant stress tolerant. Our results are the first to map the changes in the physiological and metabolic regulatory network of higher plant roots under oxybenzone stress.

Hanauma Bay's coral reef system is threatened by sunscreen pollution. Understanding the hydrodynamic nature of the bay is crucial for understanding the transport and fate of pollutants within the bay. This study conducted a comprehensive hydrodynamic analysis, revealing significant aspects of current patterns and their influence on sunscreen pollutant behavior. The analysis demonstrated the formation of flows that drive currents parallel to the shoreline, resulting in increased pollutant retention time over sensitive reef areas. Direct flushing currents were identified as playing a role in reducing pollution buildup. Particle dynamics analysis highlighted the importance of considering temporal dynamics and their implications for pollutant pathways, particularly through the swash zone during high tide phases. The study identified primary current patterns near the reef area and emphasized the circular behavior within the water body, affecting corals' susceptibility to bleaching in the southwestern part of Hanauma bay. To understand where oxybenzone concentrations were a threat to wildlife, we created a geographic model that integrated ecological risk assessment with hydrodynamic behavior in a given system, which we designate the Risk Quotient Plume - the geographic area where the concentration is above the threat level for a chemical. The study found high oxybenzone concentrations throughout the bay, threatening coral, fish, and algae populations. Oxybenzone's distribution indicated a serious threat to the entire back reef habitat and a hinderance to coral restoration efforts. The study also emphasizes the need to consider the hydrodynamic behavior of pollutants and their interaction with microplastics in the bay. Overall, the findings provide insights into hydrodynamics and pollutant dispersion in Hanauma Bay, supporting effective pollution management and conservation strategies.

Sunscreen pollution can be a symptom of unsustainable tourism and coastal development, impacting marine and aquatic resources. When introduced into marine and freshwater ecosystems, sunscreen pollution can cause a cascade of insults to the ecological structure, from impacting primary production to reducing wildlife reproductive viability and fecundity. Without intervention, tourism and its associated development in these coastal areas may become self-destructive, ultimately degrading or destroying the natural resources that are the principal attractions. The environmental sciences that focus on pollution, such as ecotoxicology, environmental contaminant surveys and monitoring, and ecological risk assessments are critical for both describing the pollution phenomenon and identifying pollution sources, as well as providing the basis for mitigation. As a case study, the Republic of Palau has taken the step of implementing a precautionary governance policy to tourism that conserves and protects its marine and aquatic resources from chemical factors that are known to contribute to sunscreen and cosmetic pollution. Governance policies can inspire the cosmetic and fashion industries to innovate product formulations that are shown to be ecologically safer - a critical and viable option for pollution mitigation and an essential component for sustained conservation. Safer products and a precautionary approach to governance, when combined with ecologically and culturally cognizant branding and education, may contribute to an authentic experience that effectively promotes environmentally sustainable tourism.

A preponderance of recent evidence indicates that oxybenzone and other personal-care product chemicals threaten the biota inhabiting various ecological niches. What is understudied is the ecotoxicological impact of oxybenzone, a UV filter in sunscreens and anti-aging products, to terrestrial/soil organisms that are keystone species in these habitats. In the present study, acute exposure (14-day) to oxybenzone resulted in earthworm mortality (LC50 of 364 mg/kg) and growth rate inhibition. Environmentally relevant concentration of oxybenzone (3.64, 7.28 and 36.4 mg/kg) at exposures of 7-day, 14-day, 28-day induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity followed by perturbations in reproduction processes and changes in vital organs. Decreased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were statistically lower than controls (p < 0.05) on day 14 for all three concentrations, while glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activity was significantly elevated from controls on days 7 and 14. On day 28, SOD and CAT activities were either not significantly different from the control or were higher, demonstrating a temporal multiphasic response of anti-oxidant enzymes. GST activity on day 28 was significantly reduced compared to controls. Acetylcholinesterase levels across the three-time points exhibited a complicated behaviour, with every exposure concentration being significantly different from the control. Chronic exposure negatively influences earthworm health status with elevated biomarker values analysed using IBRv2 index. This, in turn, impacted higher levels of hierarchical organization, significantly impairing reproduction and organismal homeostasis at the histological level and manifesting as decreasing cocoon formation and successful hatching events. Thus, the overall findings demonstrate that oxybenzone is toxic to Eisenia fetida at low-level, long-term exposure. Based on the concentration verification analysis and application of the EPA PestDF tool, oxybenzone undergoes single first-order kinetics degradation in OECD soil with DT50 and DT90 as 8.7-28.9 days, respectively.

Hanauma Bay is a 101-acre bay created by the partial collapse of a volcanic cone and once supported a vibrant coral reef system. It is the most popular swimming area in the Hawaiian Islands and has been reported to have averaged between 2.8 and 3.5 million visitors a year between the 1980s and the 2010s, with visitors averaging between 3000-4000 a day and peaking around 10,000-13,000 per day. Concentrations of oxybenzone and other common UV filters were measured in subsurface water samples and in sands from the beach-shower areas in Hanauma Bay. Results demonstrate that beach showers also can be a source of sunscreen environmental contamination. Hydrodynamic modeling indicates that oxybenzone contamination within Hanauma Bay's waters could be retained between 14 , 50 h from a single release event period. Focusing on only oxybenzone, two different Hazard and Risk Assessment analyses were conducted to determine the danger of oxybenzone to Hanauma Bay's coral reef system. Results indicate that oxybenzone contamination poses a significant threat to the wildlife of Hanauma Bay. To recover Hanauma Bay's natural resources to a healthy condition and to satis-factorily conserve its coral reef and sea grass habitats, effective tourism management policies need to be implemented that mitigate the threat of sunscreen pollution.

Of all the interconnected threats facing the planet, the top two are the climate and the biodiversity crises. Neither problem will be solved if we ignore the ocean. To turn the tide in favour of humanity and a habitable planet, we need to recognize and better value the fundamental role that the ocean plays in the earth system, and prioritize the urgent action needed to heal and protect the ocean at the 'Earthscape' level - the planetary scale at which processes to support life operate. The countries gathering at COP26 have unparalleled political capacity and leadership to make this happen. COP26 could be the turning point, but there must be commitment to united action for the ocean, as well as planning to meet those commitments, based on science-led solutions that address the interconnectivity of the ocean, climate, and biodiversity. Key ways in which the ocean both contributes to and acts as the major buffer for climate change are summarized, focusing on temperature, but not forgetting the role of storing carbon. It is noted with 'high confidence' that the ocean has stored 91% of the excess heat from global warming, with land, melting ice, and the atmosphere only taking up approximately 5, 3, and 1%, respectively. We also highlight the impact of the recent large release of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere during the 2015-2016 El Nino. We then present six science-based policy actions that form a recovery stimulus package for people, climate, nature, and the planet. Our proposals highlight what is needed to view, value, and treat the planet, including the ocean, for the benefit and future of all life.

In 2019, sands in nearby runoff streams from public beach showers were sampled on three islands in the State of Hawaii and tested for over 18 different petrochemical UV filters. Beach sands that are directly in the plume discharge of beach showers on three of the islands of Hawaii (Maui, Oahu, Hawai'i) were found to be contaminated with a wide array of petrochemical-based UV-filters that are found in sunscreens. Sands from beach showers across all three islands had a mean concentration of 5619 ng/g of oxybenzone with the highest concentration of 34,518 ng/g of oxybenzone at a beach shower in the Waikiki area of Honolulu. Octocrylene was detected at a majority of the beach shower locations, with a mean concentration of 296.3 ng/g across 13 sampling sites with the highest concentration of 1075 ng/g at the beach shower in Waikiki. Avobenzone, octi-noxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and benzophenone-2 were detected, as well as breakdown products of oxybenzone, including benzophenone-1, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, and 4-hydroxybenzophe-none. Dioxybenzone (DHMB) presented the highest concentration in water (75.4 ng/mL), whereas octocrylene was detected in all water samples. Some of these same target analytes were detected in water samples on coral reefs that are adjacent to the beach showers. Risk assessments for both sand and water samples at a majority of the sampling sites had a Risk Quotient > 1, indicating that these chemicals could pose a serious threat to beach zones and coral reef habitats. There are almost a dozen mitigation options that could be employed to quickly reduce contaminant loads associated with discharges from these beach showers, like those currently being employed (post-study sampling and analysis) in the State of Hawaii, including banning the use of sunscreens using petrochemical-based UV filters or educating tourists before they arrive on the beach.

The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act terminated the Sunscreen Innovation Act (SIA) that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) uses to determine sunscreen actives as safe and effective for human use. The Act also nullified a recent FDA proposal that reclassified 14 organic sunscreen actives as either not safe for human use or requires more data before being used in humans. Most sunscreen actives were approved in 1978; since that time the FDA has determined that over the last 20 years several changes have occurred leading to a substantial increase in sunscreen usage and exposure that increases the potential health risks associated with their use. Based on the scientific literature for the actives reviewed, it is clear that the SIA is needed to assure that sunscreen and other over-the-counter drugs are safe and efficacious for human use prior to entering the marketplace.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVLetters to the Edito...Letters to the EditorNEXTResponse to the Letter to the Editor by Dr. Christian SurberC. A. Downs*C. A. DownsHaereticus Environmental Laboratory, Clifford, Virginia 24533, United StatesLaboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR3579, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer, France*Email: [email protected]More by C. A. Downshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9599-6602, Joseph DiNardoJoseph DiNardoIndependent Researcher, Vesuvius, Virginia 24484, United StatesMore by Joseph DiNardo, Didier StienDidier StienLaboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR3579, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer, FranceMore by Didier Stienhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9950-5361, Alice M. S. RodriguesAlice M. S. RodriguesLaboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR3579, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer, FranceMore by Alice M. S. Rodrigues, and Philippe LebaronPhilippe LebaronLaboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR3579, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer, FranceMore by Philippe LebaronCite this: Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2021, 34, 9, 1938–1943Publication Date (Web):August 11, 2021Publication History Published online11 August 2021Published inissue 20 September 2021https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00217Copyright © Published 2021 by American Chemical SocietyRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views2091Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (530 KB) Get e-AlertsSUBJECTS:Aromatic compounds,Cancer,Environmental pollution,Hydrocarbons,Toxicology Get e-Alerts

Most organic ultraviolet filters are very lipophilic and some of them are difficult to quantify in the environment. This article describes an optimization method for the quantification of these compounds in sand samples with diverse compositions. The standard additions method was used. The search for a unique high-performance liquid chromatography method to analyze all these filters along with the search for optimal detection conditions are presented in detail. The best extraction solvent was methanol, and the best conditions for analysis and detection involved the use of a high-performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a biphenyl column (2.6 mu m, 150 x 4.6 mm), and an Orbitrap MS detector. We also demonstrated that sample freeze-drying can induce significant loss of some of the ultraviolet filters.

Benzophenone is a mutagen, carcinogen, and endocrine disruptor. Its presence in food products or food packaging is banned in the United States. Under California Proposition 65, there is no safe harbor for benzophenone in any personal care products, including sunscreens, anti-aging creams, and moisturizers. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) if benzophenone was present in a wide variety of commercial sun protection factor (SPF)/sunscreen products, (2) whether benzophenone concentration in the product increased over time, and (3) if the degradation of octocrylene was the likely source for benzophenone contamination. Benzophenone concentration was assayed in nine commercial sunscreen products from the European Union and eight from the United States (in triplicate), including two single ingredient sources of octocrylene. These same SPF items were subjected to the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA)-accelerated stability aging protocol for 6 weeks. Benzophenone was measured in the accelerated-aged products. Sixteen octocrylene-containing product lines that were recently purchased had an average concentration of 39 mg/kg benzophenone, ranging from 6 mg/kg to 186 mg/kg. Benzophenone was not detectable in the product that did not contain octocrylene. After subjecting the 17 products to the U.S. FDA-accelerated stability method, the 16 octocrylene-containing products had an average concentration of 75 mg/kg, ranging from 9.8 mg/kg to 435 mg/kg. Benzophenone was not detectable in the product that did not contain octocrylene. Benzophenone was detected in the pure octocrylene manufactured ingredient. Octocrylene generates benzophenone through a retro-aldol condensation. In vivo, up to 70% of the benzophenone in these sunscreen products may be absorbed through the skin. U.S. FDA has established a zero tolerance for benzophenone as a food additive. In the United States, there were 2999 SPF products containing octocrylene in 2019. The safety of octocrylene as a benzophenone generator in SPF or any consumer products should be expeditiously reviewed by regulatory agencies.