Menu
OXYBENZONE
Score:
Data: Good
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), and Biochemical or cellular level changes (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 | 549 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 137 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 106 products |
| baby sunscreen | 31 products |
| lip balm | 30 products |
| Tanning Sprays | 22 products |
| BB cream | 21 products |
| body firming lotion | 15 products |
| Facial Sun Care | 9 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 7 products |
| moisturizer | 5 products |
| fragrance for men | 3 products |
| tanning oil | 3 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 3 products |
| foundation | 2 products |
| body spray | 2 products |
| makeup with SPF | 2 products |
| fragrance for women | 2 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 2 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 1 products |
| lipstick | 1 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 1 products |
| facial powder | 1 products |
| CC cream | 1 products |
| Oils & Serums | 1 products |
| anti-aging | 1 products |
| facial cleanser | 1 products |
| sunless tanning | 1 products |
| after shave | 1 products |
| detangler | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Penetration enhancer | Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM 2004. Active ingredients in sunscreens act as topical penetration enhancers for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 195(3): 348-354. |
| Absorbs into the skin | {Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000} |
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease. | Hanson KM, Gratton E, Bardeen CJ 2006. Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin. Free Radic Biol Med 41(8): 1205-1212. |
| Does not produces excess reactive oxygen species or other harmful biochemical changes. | {Allen, 1996} |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Possible human photoallergenic toxicant or allergen | SCCP (2006) "Opinion on Benzophenone-3." European Commission - The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers. SCCP/1069/06 Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/sccp_opinions_en.htm. |
| One or more human case studies show significant photoallergenic or allergenic effects | Bryden AM, Moseley H, Ibbotson SH, Chowdhury MM, Beck MH, Bourke J, et al 2006. Photopatch testing of 1155 patients: results of the U.K. multicentre photopatch study group. Br J Dermatol 155(4): 737-747. |
| One or more human case studies show possible immune system or allergenic effects | {Journe, 1999} |
| Limited evidence of immune system (sensitization) toxicity or allergies | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Not likely to be a immune system toxicant or allergenic in humans | {CTFA, 1979; FDA,1978; Leberco Labs, 1979; FDRL, 1978} |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Endocrine disruption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human endocrine disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| Limited evidence of wildlife and the environment disruption | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | {Ma, 2003} |
| Associated with endocrine disruption | Kunz PY, Galicia HF, Fent K 2006. Comparison of in vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity of UV filters in fish. Toxicol Sci 90(2): 349-361. |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people | Wolff MS, Teitelbaum SL, Windham G, Pinney SM, Britton JA, Chelimo C, et al 2007. Pilot study of urinary biomarkers of phytoestrogens, phthalates, and phenols in girls. Environ Health Perspect 115(1): 116-121. |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | {NTP, 1990} |
| One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al 2004. Endocrine activity and developmental toxicity of cosmetic UV filters--an update. Toxicology 205(1-2): 113-122. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | Hazelton Labs, 1953; Lewerenz, 1972 |
| One or more animal studies show no adverse broad systemic effects at high doses | {Homrowski, 1968; Lewerenz, 1972; IBL, 1964; Hazelton Labs, 1953} |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | JACT 2(5):35-77, 1983 confirmed 09/02 IJT 24(S1):10-18, 2005 |
| 10524 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | Danovaro R, Bongiorni L, Corinaldesi C, Giovannelli D, Damiani E, Astolfi P, Greci L, Pusceddu A "Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections." Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr;116(4):441-7. |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not likely to be mutagenic in humans | {CTFA, 1980; DHEW, 1978; Hill Top Research Labs, 1979; Litton Bioneics, 1979} |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | JACT 2(5):35-77, 1983 confirmed 09/02 IJT 24(S1):10-18, 2005 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not likely to be a skin irritant in humans | {IBL, 1967; Kligman, 1976; FDA, 1978; CFTA, 1980; FDRL, 1978} |
Data Sources
- Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM 2004. Active ingredients in sunscreens act as topical penetration enhancers for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 195(3): 348-354.
- {Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000}
- Hanson KM, Gratton E, Bardeen CJ 2006. Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin. Free Radic Biol Med 41(8): 1205-1212.
- {Allen, 1996}
- SCCP (2006) "Opinion on Benzophenone-3." European Commission - The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers. SCCP/1069/06 Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/sccp_opinions_en.htm.
- Bryden AM, Moseley H, Ibbotson SH, Chowdhury MM, Beck MH, Bourke J, et al 2006. Photopatch testing of 1155 patients: results of the U.K. multicentre photopatch study group. Br J Dermatol 155(4): 737-747.
- {Journe, 1999}
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- {CTFA, 1979; FDA,1978; Leberco Labs, 1979; FDRL, 1978}
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998.
- {Ma, 2003}
- Kunz PY, Galicia HF, Fent K 2006. Comparison of in vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity of UV filters in fish. Toxicol Sci 90(2): 349-361.
- Wolff MS, Teitelbaum SL, Windham G, Pinney SM, Britton JA, Chelimo C, et al 2007. Pilot study of urinary biomarkers of phytoestrogens, phthalates, and phenols in girls. Environ Health Perspect 115(1): 116-121.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- {NTP, 1990}
- Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al 2004. Endocrine activity and developmental toxicity of cosmetic UV filters--an update. Toxicology 205(1-2): 113-122.
- Hazelton Labs, 1953; Lewerenz, 1972
- {Homrowski, 1968; Lewerenz, 1972; IBL, 1964; Hazelton Labs, 1953}
- JACT 2(5):35-77, 1983 confirmed 09/02 IJT 24(S1):10-18, 2005
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- Danovaro R, Bongiorni L, Corinaldesi C, Giovannelli D, Damiani E, Astolfi P, Greci L, Pusceddu A "Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections." Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr;116(4):441-7.
- {CTFA, 1980; DHEW, 1978; Hill Top Research Labs, 1979; Litton Bioneics, 1979}
- {IBL, 1967; Kligman, 1976; FDA, 1978; CFTA, 1980; FDRL, 1978}
- Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company 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
