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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
| beach & sport sunscreen | 159 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 110 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 31 products |
| BB cream | 26 products |
| nail polish | 23 products |
| fragrance for men | 14 products |
| foundation | 14 products |
| fragrance for women | 8 products |
| concealer | 8 products |
| baby sunscreen | 5 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 4 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 3 products |
| conditioner | 3 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 3 products |
| lip balm | 2 products |
| moisturizer | 2 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 2 products |
| body spray | 2 products |
| lip gloss | 2 products |
| 2 products | |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 1 products |
| anti-aging | 1 products |
| after shave | 1 products |
| detangler | 1 products |
| shaving cream | 1 products |
| shampoo | 1 products |
| hair styling aide | 1 products |
| facial cleanser | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Oxybenzone increased absorption of 2,4D (a pesticide) by 36.4% and decreased lag time by 15.9%. | 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. |
| Is absorbed into skin in vitro at 0 to 0.48% through the skin after 10 h) | {Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000} |
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| When benzophenone-3 penetrates into the skin, the level of ROS increases above that produced naturally under UV illumination. | 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 produce damaging reactive oxygen species upon exposure to sunlight | {Allen, 1996} |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Studies clearly indicate oxybenzone is a photoallergen. | 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. |
| The most common photoallergen was benzophenone-3 (27 reactions; 21%) | 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. |
| Allergenic reaction when combined with sun exposure | {Journe, 1999} |
| Benzophenones are mildly irritating and sensitizing at concentrations greater than those used in cosmetics | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Nonphotoallergenic in 6 of 6 studies | {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 |
| Reduced DHT-induced AR activation in MDA-kb2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, acted as estrogen agonists on MCF cells | {Ma, 2003} |
| Benzophenone-3 is weakly estrogenic in in vitro tests with rainbow trout estrogen receptor | 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 |
|---|---|
| A biomonitoring indicated 96% of 6 to 8 year old girls had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in their urine. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Benzophenone-3 had minimal effects on fertility in the F1 generation but F2 pup weights were significantly reduced. Probably due to systemic toxicity. | {NTP, 1990} |
| Oxybenzone increased uterine weight in immature rats. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Depressed growth, leucocytosis, anemia, reduced organ weight and nephrosis after 90 days diet with up to 1.0% noted in 1 of 2 studies of subchronic and chronic oral toxicity, no toxic effects noted after diet with up to 1% after 27 days | Hazelton Labs, 1953; Lewerenz, 1972 |
| No toxicity oral up to 16g/k | {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 |
|---|---|
| Oxybenzone can trigger outbreaks of viral infection in coral reefs. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Nonmutagenic with and without S-9 activation | {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 |
|---|---|
| No irritation and/or sensitization in 6 of 7 studies, mild sensitization in 1 study | {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}
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