Curriculum Vitae: Dr. sc. Sonja K. Fagervold is a research engineer at Sorbonne University in France, working at the Laboratory of Microbial Biodiversity and Technology at the Banyuls Oceanological Observatory.
She holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland and an MSc in Toxicology/Microbiology from the University of Oslo. Her research has focused extensively on the microbial biodegradation and remediation of recalcitrant organic pollutants.
Currently, her work centers on organic UV filters used in sunscreens, with a particular emphasis on their biodegradation but also their environmental fate and ecological effects.
UV filters unfiltered: what happens to sunscreens after use?
Organic UV filters are key components in many cosmetic products, including sunscreen creams. The use of sun care products is increasing, which raises concerns, particularly in coastal areas with high tourism pressure. Over 30 different compounds are currently used as UV filters in the EU. Once released into the environment, the fate of these filters depends on their chemical properties, persistence, and degradation.
Our team investigates several aspects of UV filter fate and effects, including the analysis of these compounds in local environments, their ecotoxicological impacts on various marine organisms, and their degradation and transformation. Interestingly, some filters can be transformed by marine organisms, such as corals and worms, complicating the assessment of their real-life environmental concentrations and effects.
Additionally, the degradation of organic UV filters in the environment remains a significant question. We have shown that many organic UV filters are recalcitrant to degradation, likely due to their limited bioavailability to microorganisms involved in this process and/or the chemical stability of certain filters. However, some organic UV filters are degraded by specific groups of microorganisms, suggesting that degradation requires a particular set of enzymes and/or conditions. Understanding the processes that organic UV filters undergo is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of their long-term risks to coastal ecosystems.