Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.06.033

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Volume 80, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 266-271

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.06.033 Get rights and content

With increasing awareness regarding the risks of sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancer, the use of sunscreens has increased. Organic and inorganic filters are used in sunscreen products worldwide. Concerns have been raised regarding the environmental effects of commonly used organic ultraviolet (UV) filters, including oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octocrylene, and octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate). Studies have identified UV filters such as oxybenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, and ethylhexyl salicylate in almost all water sources around the world and have commented that these filters are not easily removed by common wastewater treatment plant techniques. Additionally, in laboratory settings, oxybenzone has been implicated specifically as a possible contributor to coral reef bleaching. Furthermore, UV filters such as 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate have been identified in various species of fish worldwide, which has possible consequences for the food chain. As dermatologists, it is important for us to continue to emphasize the public health impact of excessive sun exposure and advise our patients about proper photoprotection practice, which consists of seeking shade, wearing photoprotective clothing (including hats and sunglasses), and applying appropriate sunscreens.

Section snippets

Water sources

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are critical in the water recycling process. Water utilized by humans passes through these facilities for treatment before re-entering rivers and streams. WWTPs worldwide have been tested for UV filters in their influent (incoming water sources) and effluent (water that has been treated). In Brazil, oxybenzone, ethylhexyl salicylate, octinoxate, and octocrylene were identified in raw and treated water.²⁶ Oxybenzone, 4-MBC, octinoxate, and octocrylene were all

Coral reefs

Coral reefs are a critical component of our environment, supporting as many as 1 million species of fish, invertebrates, and algae.³⁴ Coral belong to the Cnidaria family, which are soft bodied animals that engage in symbiosis with algae (zooxanthellae). Zooxanthellae live on coral. Their photosynthesis gives coral energy, and the algae itself provides the coral's vibrant colors. As coral grows, it forms branching structures culminating in reefs. When coral reefs face oxidative stress from

Food chain

UV filters have been studied in fish and mammals. In rats, 4-MBC interferes with sexual behavior and reproductive practices.18, 29 In zebra fish, octocrylene alters development in brain and liver.³⁰ In rainbow trout and Japanese rice fish (medaka), laboratory studies demonstrated that exposure to high concentrations of oxybenzone led to decreased egg production, with significantly fewer hatchings, as well as induction of vitellogenin protein in males (a precursor of the egg yolk found only in

Solutions

Given the growing concerns regarding UV filters present in the environment, public and government agencies have been searching for solutions. Legislation has been proposed to ban chemicals that have affected our food supply.3, 42 On May 1, 2018, the Hawaiian state legislature passed a bill that bans the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. At the time of writing of this review, the bill was awaiting the signature of Governor David Y. Ige.⁴³ If the bill is

Conclusion

With the known effects of UV radiation on erythema, photoaging, and development of skin cancer, photoprotection is paramount. However, we must also take into account the impact of our efforts on the environment. UV filters have been identified in many water sources; they are extremely difficult to remove by using traditional WWTP practices. With continued use of organic filters, one can surmise that concentrations in our water sources will continue to rise. The effect on coral reefs is clearly

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Concentrations, compositional profiles, and health risks of benzophenones among the Taiwanese population based on analysis of 23 daily consumed foods
2024, Journal of Hazardous Materials
In this study, we analyzed the occurrence and distribution of 11 benzophenone-type ultraviolet filters (BPs) in 893 food samples spanning 7 food categories in Taiwan. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of BPs. The results indicated that cornflakes had the highest mean level of BPs (103 ng/g), followed by bread (101 ng/g) and pastries (59 ng/g). BP was the most prevalent category, followed by 4-methylbenzophenone (4-MBP), 2-hydroxybenzophenone, and benzophenone-3. Estimation of the lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of BP (average life expectancy of 80 years) placed them in the 50th and 97.5th percentiles [P50 (P97.5)] LTCR of 1.9 × 10⁻⁷ (5.7 × 10⁻⁶), indicating that BP in food poses a low renal hazard to the Taiwanese population. The noncarcinogenic risk of BPs was evaluated using a hazard quotient and combined margin of exposure (MOE_T), revealing a P50 (P97.5) hazard index of < 1 for BP, 4-MBP, and methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate. Although the P50 MOE_T values for all age groups were within the moderate range of concern, with a more conservative extreme (P2.5), the MOE_T values for the 0–3, 3–6, and 6–12 age groups fell below 100, indicating a high concern for renal degeneration and hyperplasia.
Behavioral and biochemical responses of the marine polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis to 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) exposure
2024, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology
2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is a commonly used UV filter, and is receiving increasing concerns due to its ubiquitous occurrence in a variety of environmental media and potential adverse effects. This study was aimed to assess the ecotoxicological potentials of EHMC on the marine polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis. To this end, ragworms were exposed to 2, 20, 200 μg/L EHMC for 14 days and multiple toxicological endpoints were investigated. The results showed that EHMC significantly reduced burrowing rate, but did not affect AChE activity. Exposure to EHMC significantly elevated the activities of SOD and CAT and decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation. Besides, the induction of AKP activity indicated a stimulated immune response in the ragworms when exposed to high concentration of EHMC. Furthermore, the upregulated expression of caspase-8 suggested that EHMC might induce apoptosis in ragworms via the death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway. Our findings highlight the potential environmental risks of EHMC to marine ecosystems.
Application of catalytic wet peroxide oxidation for sunscreen agents breakdown
2024, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Sunscreen agents are chemical compounds widely used nowadays for skin protection from UV sunlight. Recently, their ubiquitous occurrence in aquatic systems has been evidenced, which poses a high risk for the environment and human health as they are associated with endocrine disrupting activity, reproductive toxicity, and genotoxicity. In this work, the feasibility of an economically and environmentally friendly catalytic system based on the thermally modified natural magnetite and hydrogen peroxide (Fe₃O₄-R400/H₂O₂), has been evaluated for the degradation of two representative sunscreen agents: benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) in wastewater. The experiments were conducted under circumneutral pH (pH₀ = 5), with temperature control (25 °C). Both compounds (500 μg L⁻¹) were successfully removed from water by using a relatively low catalyst concentration (0.5 g L⁻¹) and the theoretical stoichiometric H₂O₂ dose for their complete oxidation (∼2.3 mg L⁻¹). Afterwards, a complete operating condition study was performed with BP-3, given its predominant occurrence in fresh waters, analysing the influence of H₂O₂ dose (1.2–4.6 mg L⁻¹), catalyst concentration (0.1–0.5 g L⁻¹), and temperature (25–45 °C). From the evolution of the identified by-products, a reaction pathway was proposed according to which oxidation of BP-3 gives rise to several aromatic intermediates, which finally evolve to short-chain organic acids. The generation of such aromatic by-products led to a considerably ecotoxicity increase in the initial stages of the reaction, but non-toxic effluents were ultimately achieved. Notably, the mineralization yield reached was above 60%. As a proof of concept, the feasibility of the system was finally demonstrated in real water matrices (WWTP effluent and surface water).
Development of a SPE/GC/MS method for simultaneous determination of UV filters (Oxybenzone and Octocrylene) and hormones (Estrone, Beta-Estradiol, and Estriol) in aqueous matrices
2024, Microchemical Journal
Recently organic ultraviolet filters (UV filters) and estrogenic hormones have drawn attention as emerging contaminants due to their wide diffusion in the environment and potential adverse effects on the aquatic system and human life. In this study, a analytical method was developed using solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by silylation and determination by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the determination of hormones and ultraviolet filters in aqueous samples, as well as their determination in effluents and rainfall drainage canals, in the region of Pelotas/RS/Brazil. Using a statistical treatment with two variables and two levels, the influence of pH and ionic strength was evaluated. Under the best conditions (pH 7 and 10 % NaCl), samples were analyzed and the analytes determined at different concentrations. The presence of UV filters in the raw and treated sewage samples reflects the inefficiency of the treatment for these compounds. The octocrylene UV filter was quantified in all samples ranging from 0.35 µg/L ± 3.3 % to 3.28 µg/L ± 3.3 %. The method proved to be adequate, meeting the analytical requirements of regulatory bodies.
Organic micropollutant removal and phosphate recovery by polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes: Impact of buildup interactions
2024, Chemosphere
Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) deposition conditions can favorably or adversely affect the membrane filtration performance of various pollutants. Although pH and ionic strength have been proven to alter the characteristics of PEM, their role in determining the buildup interactions that control filtration efficacy has not yet been conclusively proved. A PEM constructed using electrostatic or non-electrostatic interactions from controlled deposition of a weak polyelectrolyte could retain both charged and uncharged pollutants from water. The fundamental relationship between polyelectrolyte charge density, PEM buildup interaction, and filtration performance was explored using a weak-strong electrolyte pair consisting of branching poly (ethyleneimine) and poly (styrene sulfonate) (PSS) across pH ranges of 4–10 and NaCl concentrations of 0 M–0.5 M. PEI/PSS multilayers at acidic pH were dominated by electrostatic interactions, which favored the selective removal of a charged solute, phosphate over chloride, while at alkaline pH, non-electrostatic interactions dominated, which favored the removal of oxybenzone (OXY), a neutral hydrophobic solute. The key factor determining these interactions was the charge density of PEI, which is controlled by pH and ionic strength of the deposition solutions. These findings indicate that the control of buildup interactions can largely influence the physico-chemical and transport characteristics of PEM membranes.
Benzophenone induces cardiac developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos by upregulating Wnt signaling
2023, Chemosphere
Benzophenone (BP) is found in many popular consumer products, such as cosmetics. BP potential toxicity to humans and aquatic organisms has emerged as an increased concern. In current study, we utilized a zebrafish model to assess BP-induced developmental cardiotoxicity. Following BP exposure, zebrafish embryos exhibited developmental toxicity, including increased mortality, reduced hatchability, delayed yolk sac absorption, and shortened body length. Besides, BP exposure induced cardiac defects in zebrafish embryos, comprising pericardial edema, reduced myocardial contractility and rhythm disturbances, and altered expression levels of cardiac developmental marker genes. Mechanistically, BP exposure disturbed the redox state and increased the level of apoptosis in zebrafish cardiomyocytes. Transcriptional expression levels of Wnt signaling genes, involving lef1, axin2, and β-catenin, were upregulated after BP treatment. Inhibition of Wnt signaling with IWR-1 could rescue the BP-induced cardiotoxicity in zebrafish. In summary, BP exposure causes cardiotoxicity via upregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway in zebrafish embryos.

View all citing articles on Scopus

: Funding sources: None.

: Disclosure: Dr Lim is an investigator/coinvestigator for Ferndale, Estee Lauder, Allergan, and Incyte. Dr Schneider has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

: Reprints not available from the authors.

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ReviewReview of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients

Section snippets

Water sources

Coral reefs

Food chain

Solutions

Conclusion

Environ Int

Lancet

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci

J Invest Dermatol

Environ Res

Neurotoxicology

Water Res

Environ Int

Sci Total Environ

Chemosphere

Environ Int

Sci Total Environ

Sci Total Environ

Jpn Mar Pollut Bull

Microcystis Aeruginosa Aquat Toxicol

Chemosphere

Aquat Toxicol

Chemosphere

Skin Cancer Statistics

Skin Cancer

Dermatological and environmental toxicological impact of the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone/benzophenone-3

J Cosmet Dermatol

Concentrations of the sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 in residents of the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2004

Environ Health Perspect

Safety of oxybenzone: putting numbers into perspective

Arch Dermatol

Review
Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients