AVOBENZONE || Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database | Environmental Working Group

AVOBENZONE

Score	Data: Limited
CAS	70356-09-1
sunscreen: SPF greater than 30 (252 products)
sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (146 products)
sunscreen: moisturizer (127 products)
fragrance for women (69 products)
anti-aging (52 products)
Show all 636 products that contain AVOBENZONE.
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AVOBENZONE

image source: PubChem

Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer
Developmental & reproductive toxicity	no information
Allergies & immunotoxicity
Use restrictions
Contamination concerns: BENZOIC ACID, 4-T-BUTYLBENZOIC ACID, BENZALDEHYDE, P-ANISIC ACID, ACETOPHENONE, DIBENZOYLMETHANE
Other LOW concerns: Data gaps

About the ratings

EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Function/use(s): Sunscreen Agent; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; UV ABSORBER; UV FILTER

About AVOBENZONE: Sunlight causes this unstable ingredient to break down into unknown chemicals, especially in the presence of another active, Octinoxate. Primarily a UVA-absorbing agent.

Synonym(s): BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, 4-TERT-BUTYL-4'-METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE; 1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 2-BUTYL-2-METHOXY-1,3-DIPHENYL-; 2-BUTYL-2-METHOXY-1,3-DIPHENYL- 1,3-PROPANEDIONE; AVEBENZONE; METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE; AVO; PARSOL 1789; AVOBENZONA; AVOBENZONUM; EINECS 274-581-6; BMDBM

Use restrictions
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)		Japan's Standards for Cosmetics

Cancer
type of concern	product conditions	reference
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		Damiani, E, 1999

Allergies/immunotoxicity
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Associated with immunotoxicity		Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA, 1996

Enhanced skin absorption
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Absorbs into the skin		Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008

Decreased skin absorption
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Limited potential to absorb into the skin.		Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS, 2005

Ecotoxicology
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin		Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Persistence and bioaccumulation
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative		Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful		Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Data gaps
type of concern	product conditions	reference
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
204 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->		PubMed

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study	appears on list as	classification(s)
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List	1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 1-[4-(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)PHENYL] -3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)-	,,,Y-Persistent,,,,,,
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List	1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 1-[4-(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)PHENYL]-3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)-	reported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
Japan's Standards for Cosmetics	4-TERT-BUTYL-4'-METHOXY DIBENZOYLMETHANE	Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)
Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS, 2005	AVOBENZONE (BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE)	A 1% solution of avobenzone was applied to samples of human epidermis in vitro; less than 1/1000th of the applied chemical was detected within viable skin cells.
Roscher N, Lindemann M, Kong S, Cho C, Jiang P, 1994	AVOBENZONE	In sunlight, breaks down into several chemicals, likely including methoxybenzoic acid, tert-butylbenzoic acid, tert-butylbenzene (Roscher 1994; Dondi 2006) and other benzaldehydes, benzoic acids, acetophenones, phenylglyoxals, benzils, dibenzoyl methanes
Damiani, E, 1999	PARASOL 1789	Damage to DNA due to Parasol 1789 with exposure to UVA light
Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA, 1996	AVOBENZONE	Reports of photoallergy are rare, and are limited to sensitive individuals
Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008	BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE	At 4.4 mg/cm(2) coverage of UV filter on the baby mouse skin, 0.80 +/- 0.28 % of the applied BMBM was detected in the receptor fluid at 24 h after application.

references
government/industry list/academic study	reference
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List	EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List	IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25
Japan's Standards for Cosmetics	Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
Open scientific literature	Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS. 2005. Sunscreen penetration of human skin and related keratinocyte toxicity after topical application. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 18(4): 170-174.
Open scientific literature	Roscher N, Lindemann M, Kong S, Cho C, Jiang P. 1994. Photodecomposition of several compounds commonly used as sunscreen agents. J Photochem Photobiol A 80: 417-421; Dondi D, Albini A, Serpone N. 2006. Interactions between different solar UVB/UVA filters contained in commercial suncreams and consequent loss of UV protection. Photochem Photobiol Sci 5(9): 835-843; Schwack W, Rudolph T. 1995. Photochemistry of dibenzoyl methane UVA filters part I. J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 28: 229-234.
Open scientific literature	Damiani, E., L. Greci, et al. (1999). "Nitroxide radicals protect dna from damage when illuminated in vitro in the presence of dibenzoylmethane and a common sunscreen ingredient." Free Radical Biology and Medicine 26: 809-816.
Open scientific literature	Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA. 1996. Multiple chemical sensitivities, including inatrogenic allergic contact dermatitis, in a patient with chronic actinic dermatitis: implication for management. American Journal of Contact Dermatitis 7(3): 166-170.; Buckley D, Wayte J, O
Open scientific literature	Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP. Transdermal penetration of UV filters. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 21 (1):23-9.