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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
| daily use with SPF | 124 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 123 products |
| nail polish | 39 products |
| fragrance for women | 35 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 32 products |
| fragrance for men | 26 products |
| BB cream | 23 products |
| baby sunscreen | 18 products |
| foundation | 12 products |
| concealer | 8 products |
| body spray | 7 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 7 products |
| hair styling aide | 6 products |
| conditioner | 6 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 6 products |
| shampoo | 6 products |
| after shave | 5 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 5 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 4 products |
| hair spray | 3 products |
| facial powder | 3 products |
| moisturizer | 3 products |
| lip gloss | 3 products |
| 3 products | |
| bronzer/highlighter | 3 products |
| tanning oil | 2 products |
| mask | 2 products |
| setting powder/spray | 2 products |
| facial cleanser | 2 products |
| nail glue | 2 products |
| detangler | 1 products |
| liquid hand soap | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| makeup primer | 1 products |
| body oil | 1 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 1 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 1 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 1 products |
| lip balm | 1 products |
| nail treatment | 1 products |
| anti-aging | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Penetration enhancer | Open scientific literature |
| Absorbs into the skin | Open scientific literature |
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. | Open scientific literature |
| Does not produces excess reactive oxygen species or other harmful biochemical changes. | Open scientific literature |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Possible human photoallergenic toxicant or allergen | Open scientific literature |
| One or more human case studies show significant photoallergenic or allergenic effects | Open scientific literature |
| One or more human case studies show possible Photoallergic or allergenic effects | Open scientific literature |
| Limited evidence of immune system (sensitization) toxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
| Not likely to be a immune system toxicant or allergenic in humans | Open scientific literature |
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 | Open scientific literature |
| Associated with endocrine disruption | Open scientific literature |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people | Open scientific literature |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | Open scientific literature |
| One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | Open scientific literature |
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) | Open scientific literature |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| One or more animal studies show no adverse broad systemic effects at high doses | Open scientific literature |
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 | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 10524 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | Open scientific literature |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not likely to be mutagenic in humans | Open scientific literature |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not likely to be a any irritant in humans | Open scientific literature |
Data Sources
- Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
- 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.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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
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