Project description
Sunscreen study to protect oceans and our skin
Every summer, millions apply sunscreen to protect their skin, unaware that its UV filters can end up harming the sea. These chemicals, washed off in the ocean or released through wastewater, are polluting coastal waters and accumulating in marine life like mussels and seaweeds. In high-tourism areas, this poses serious risks: endocrine disruption, DNA damage in marine organisms, and even human exposure through seafood. Despite the threat, UV-filter pollution remains understudied in Australia. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SAFESEA project steps in. Focusing on Australia’s southeast coast, it uses advanced metabolomic tools and risk assessments to investigate the impact on both ecosystems and human health.
Objective
Ultraviolet (UV) filters, used in sunscreens and other consumer products, are effective at blocking UV radiation but can enter marine environments due to inadequate wastewater treatment and human activities. This contamination poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, especially in tourist-heavy coastal regions. Coastal biota, such as mussels and seaweeds, are exposed to these contaminants, leading to their accumulation in tissues and posing significant ecotoxicological risks, including endocrine disruption and DNA damage. Furthermore, these contaminants may enter the human diet through seafood consumption, posing substantial exposure risks. There is a critical need to understand the impact of UV filter contamination on marine ecosystems and human health, especially in Australia, where these compounds remain under-investigated. In response, the SAFESEA project will adopt a holistic strategic approach to monitor and assess the ecotoxicological risks associated with UV filter bioaccumulation in marine organisms along the southeast coast of Australia. The methodology includes metabolomic studies, functional analysis, and metabolic pathway assessments to establish correlations between contaminants and metabolites, while also considering spatial variation. The project will evaluate dietary intake and exposure risks from seafood consumption by comparing data from Australia with that of Mediterranean countries. By employing rigorous methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches, the SAFESEA project aims to provide significant insights into ecological and human exposure resulting from UV filter contamination in marine environments, and to advocate for the reduction of water pollution and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
18071 Granada
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.