AVOBENZONE
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate) and Contamination concerns (high)
Cancer 

Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity 

Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity 

Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
beach & sport sunscreen | 453 products |
moisturizer with SPF | 236 products |
fragrance for women | 92 products |
lip balm with SPF | 76 products |
fragrance for men | 52 products |
body spray | 27 products |
baby sunscreen | 17 products |
body wash/cleanser | 16 products |
moisturizer | 12 products |
hair spray | 10 products |
lip liner | 9 products |
blush | 8 products |
bronzer/highlighter | 7 products |
makeup primer | 6 products |
liquid hand soap | 4 products |
body oil | 4 products |
hair treatment/serum | 4 products |
facial cleanser | 3 products |
conditioner | 2 products |
lip balm | 2 products |
BB cream | 2 products |
tanning oil | 2 products |
shampoo | 2 products |
facial moisturizer/treatment | 2 products |
oil controller | 1 products |
after shave | 1 products |
bar soap | 1 products |
sunless tanning | 1 products |
1 products | |
detangler | 1 products |
toners/astringents | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
Enhanced skin absorption
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
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. | Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP Transdermal penetration of UV filters. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 21 (1):23-9. |
Decreased skin absorption
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
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. | 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. |
Use restrictions
Concern | 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
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Damage to DNA due to Parasol 1789 with exposure to UVA light | 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. |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Reports of photoallergy are rare, and are limited to sensitive individuals | 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 |
Data gaps
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
312 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
- Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP Transdermal penetration of UV filters. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 21 (1):23-9.
- 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.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- 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.
- 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
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met the program’s impurity and use restrictions based on EWG's review of the company's data.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® 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
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer