# Removal of Organic UV Filters Using Enzymes in Spent Mushroom Composts from Fungicultures
## 1 Introduction  
Organic UV filters are major components of sunscreen products. They can absorb solar UV radiation to protect humans from acute (sunburn, photoaging) and chronic (skin cancer) damage [1]. Organic UV filters are released into aquatic ecosystems through human recreational activities and urban wastewater effluents [2]. For instance, two organic UV filters (homosalate (HMS) and ethylhexyl methoxycinamate (EHMC)) were identified in the Nanjing Qinhuai River system (an urban river system) [3]. EHMC and 2-ethylhexyl salicate (EHS) were identified in samples from eleven sites among three rivers, five sewage treatment plants and four wastewater treatment plants located in different parts of South Korea [4]. A study by [PERSON] et al. (2015) indicated that EHMC and EHS were present in samples from six water treatment plants in cities in Southeast Brazil [5]. A study by [PERSON] et al. (2011) indicated that EHMC and HMS were present in surface waters and sediments in Japanese rivers and lakes. [6]. EHMC and HMS were also identified in samples from estuaries in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia [7] and Chesapeake Bay, USA [8]. These results indicated that three organic UV filters (EHS, HMS and EHMC) widely occur in urban wastewater, freshwater rivers and lakes and cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants. In the past, studies of organic UV filters mainly focused on the distributions of organic UV filters in the environment and sewage, as well as the bioaccumulation and toxicity of organic UV filters to users (humans) and organisms in environments [9; 10; 11]. An increasing number of experimental studies indicated that several organic UV filters (such as benzophenone-3, 3-benzylidene camphor, 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor, 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxy cinnamate, homosalate (HMS), 2-ethylhexyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate and 4-aminobenzoic acid) might have endocrine disruptive effects [9]. Many in vivo and in vitro studies of organic UV filters have revealed a wide variety of adverse effects onthe exposed organisms, such as coral bleaching, which has received considerable attention [10; 11]. Laboratory studies show that UV filters alter the development of the brain and liver in zebrafish. High levels of UV filters led to decreased egg production and significantly fewer hatchings in Japanese rice fish [10]. Moreover, potential endocrine, neurologic, neoplastic and developmental toxicities of organic UV filters may be detrimental to a vast array of aquatic and marine organisms [11; 12; 13]. Some organic UV filters are proven to accumulate in various kinds of aquatic organisms and, as a consequence, have adverse effects on organisms in the food web including humans. The removal of organic UV filters in the environment has become an important issue. However, little is known about the biodegradation and biotransformation of organic UV filters. Biodegradation and biotransformation are techniques that exploit the ability of microorganisms to break down or transform pollutants [14]. Mycoremmediation, employing extracellular enzymes of white-rot fungi for the removal of organic pollutants, is a cost-effective, eco-friendly and efficacious method [15; 16; 17; 18]. The identification, study and implementation of lacase-mediated processes to eliminate pollutants from contaminated environments is an intensive research area of mycoremmediation [19; 20]. Lacases belong to the enzyme family of multicopper oxidases, which are classified as benzenediol oxygen reductases (EC 1.10.3.2) and are also known as urushiol oxidases and p-diphenyl oxidases [21]. They are versatile enzymes with low substrate specificity and high capability to oxidize a large number of phenolic and nonphenolic molecules [22]. Adsorption is another strategy of mycoremedian. For example, the removal of heavy metal pollutants can be achieved by adsorption [23; 24].