Oxybenzone has similar effects on all organisms:

• Toxicity

• Endocrine Disruption

• Feminization and

• Sterility

What You Must Know 

The sunscreen chemical that is in over 60% of sunscreens is rapidly absorbed, and according to the CDC, 97% of Americans are contaminated with oxybenzone (that can be found in your urine).

The exact properties that make it a good photoprotector also make it a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, bioaccumulated up the food chain with us at the top.

Properties:

• Most lipophilic (meaning it loves fat —> also doesn’t break down in water, rather accumulates in fatty tissues and is metabolized)

• Photostable: doesn’t break down in sunlight

• Phototoxic: adverse effects are exacerbated by light, particularly UV radiation.

• It produces free radicals as it absorbs sunlight (a byproduct of the chemical reaction that occurs to convert UV radiation into heat energy on your skin)

• 1/4 of people will develop a sunburn-like reaction upon exposure to the sun.

• Most rapidly absorbed in the skin, where it causes widespread endocrine disrupting effects, mimicking the hormone estrogen.

  • It increases estrogen and leads to sterility in many species.

  • Hormonal effects have been detected since 2001.

Absorption

• Oxybenzone is absorbed by humans within 20 minutes after application.

• There, it can be detected in your urine for days.

• It accumulates in your fatty tissues (as it is highly lipophilic)

• There, as we try to break down this toxin, it is metabolized into more toxic byproducts, and has been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, leading to sterility, reproductive diseases, developmental disorders, and neurological problems.

• Once metabolized, it is excreted, where it goes to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), and cannot be broken down. Oftentimes, it emerges from wastewater effluent (what comes out after it’s been treated)

• However, children do not yet have the metabolism to break down oxybenzone, and was deemed “unsuitable for children” in 2006.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) urged the FDA to look at oxybenzone in 2008, citing numerous studies proving negative human health impacts and ecological impacts. Notoriously, they failed to take action.

For over 15 years, the toxic effects of oxybenzone have been known.

Sunscreen companies are already reformulating and taking oxybenzone out.

But you’re probably still using it.

Why Do We Use It?

A History Of Sun Protection

For thousands of years, humans have been innovating to protect themselves. We've grown as a civilization by continuing to hurl ourselves forward, find new methods, exploration, adaptation, survival, success.  

As hunters and gatherers, we used plant products to protect our skin -- the ancient Egyptians used extracts of rice, jasmine, and lupine plants, which are still used today. Zinc oxide paste has been used for skin protection purposes for thousands of years. The Sama-Bajau people of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, used "burak" made from water weeds, rice, and spices to protect their face from the harsh sun while at sea. 

The Rise Of Sunscreen

We can thank Coco Chanel for many things in this world, her iconic style has permeated the depths of our culture to this day. While she's most known for her design, fashion, and bags, she also started the suntan revolution. Out on her yacht in Cannes, she returned with a sun-kissed glow, unsurprisingly sparking a look that remains to this day. 

Meanwhile, researchers were just beginning to understand the sun and its effects on the skin. A study, published in 1922 was the first to link sunburn to Ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays. In 1928, the first sunscreen blend was placed on the market, a mix of benzyl salicylate and cinnamate, designed to absorb UVB radiation. 

UVB (Burn)

(290-320 nm)

UVB rays are the short-range high-energy rays responsible for burning the surface layer of your skin. Naturally, these were the main concern, as they caused the effects we could see.

After being burned on Mount Piz Buin in 1938, Franz Greiter invented Gletscher Creme (Glacier Cream) to protect from UVB rays (thought today to have an SPF of 2). It was the start of what was to become the beloved company Piz Buin. 

Thirty years later, in 1974, Greiter adopted calculations from Ellinger and Schulze to introduce the Sun Protection Factor (SPF), measuring the protection of a sunscreen from the UVB-burning rays.  

For 50 years, we focused solely on UVB rays and UVB protection.

UVA (Age)

(321-400 nm)

It was not until 1977 that Kumakiri et al proved that ultraviolet-A (UVA) radiation could also cause negative changes in the ultrastructure of the skin. We now know that UVA rays are actually far more plentiful and far more dangerous than UVB rays, furthermore, they're everpresent. 

FDA - 1978

With the rise of sunscreens, the FDA decided to regulate these products in 1978. When creating the rules and guidelines, however, they failed to take into consideration UVA, and the damage it can cause to the skin. 

Instead, they focused solely on UVB, as it was what they could see, a choice that would gravely impact sun protection to this day. 

They stated that ALL deleterious effects from that sun were caused by.UVB rays that lead to sunburn, ignoring the far more prevalent UVA rays. 

Naturally, they adopted Greiter's SPF calculation - measuring the amount of UVB (burning) rays absorbed by a sunscreen -- it is a comparison of: 
A) How long does it take you to get burned with nothing on 
B) How long does it take you to get burned with sunscreen on? 
--> However much longer is your measurement of SPF. 

Long-term implications: consumers now believed that SPF was the measure of the effectiveness of a sunscreen. It's not. 

1980’s

The 80's brought with it a time of boom and excess. We started preferring products with shorter lifespans, with the popularization of "disposables" such as the disposable camera. 
We wanted new, we wanted fun, and we wanted to look good. White paste was not "in." 

Rather, a new kind of sunscreen had to be created: one that was clear, one that could be sprayed, and that still protects from UVA. 

Enter: Oxybenzone & Avobenzone 

UVA (Age)

The safest and most effective UV filters have always been zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the two mineral filters. 

They offer full broad spectrum coverage, and are safe for babies and the most sensitive skin. But they're white.

As scientists learning more about UVA, companies wanted to create chemical filters that would absorb those lower wavelengths as well. 

With fairly loose sunscreen regulations, companies started pumping sunscreens into the market. 
With 10% maximums, oxybenzone had been added to the High Production Volume List by 1990, for chemicals imported or manufactured into the US at volumes in excess of 1 million pounds per year. 

Oxybenzone & Avobenzone

Looking for an inexpensive, clear sunscreen that you can spray? Look no further, oxybenzone and avobenzone are here! 

History Of Sun Protection

Sun Protection Timeline

1978

FDA proposes to regulate sunscreens, incorrectly believing that UVB is the only harmful form of solar radiation.

They adopt the SPF calculation, which only measures UVB protection (protection against burns), ignoring the more pervasive form: UVA radiation.

This lays the foundation for a misled public to this day.

 1980’s

UVA filters oxybenzone and avobenzone are approved in the US.

1990

Oxybenzone was added to the High Production Volume Challenge Program for manufacturing in or importing to the US chemicals more than 1 million pounds per year

Because people prefer clear, easy, sprays, they often choose sunscreens with oxybenzone. 

When you buy a sunscreen for your kid, you usually buy a spray because otherwise they won't let you put it on. But what you don't know, is that most of those sprays have oxybenzone, and oxybenzone is ALWAYS toxic to children. Especially pregnant mothers. 

It was not until the early 2000's that oxybenzone's effects had started to become clear, and by then, there were few people in America who weren't contaminated with oxybenzone.

2008 proved it, when the CDC did a study of 2,500 participants ages 6 and older, and found that an alarming 96.7% of them had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in their urine.   

Why is this happening?

Everything about oxybenzone that makes it such a good photoprotector, also makes it an endlessly toxic contaminant.

The Oxybenzone Paper

Index

I. Oxybenzone Structure / Characteristics

a.     Properties

b.     Prevalence

c.     How it works

II.  Effects Overview

a.     Endocrine Disruptor

b.     Affects Everything and everyone

c.     Ubiquitous toxicant

            i.     Absorbed in skin

        ii.     Found in 97% of Americans

d.     Photo-Allergen

e.     Photo-toxicant (especially UV)  

III.   The Flow of Oxybenzone

a.     Manufactured for mainly sunscreen products

b.     Consumption / Human Application

c.     A) factory runoff B) Your runoff in ocean or shower

d.     WWTP

e.     Back into water system

f.      Fish

g.     Humans

h.     THE CLOSED SYSTEM

i.       BIOACCUMULATION

j.       BIOMAGNIFICATION  

IV.   Oxybenzone Effects by Category

a.     Universal

b.     Humans

c.     Mammals (ex dolphin)

d.     Marine vertebrates (ex fish)

e.     Marine invertebrates (ex sea urchin)

f.      Coral

g.     Algae

V. Oxybenzone Toxicity Levels

a.     Observed Concentrations

 VI.      Toxic By-Products

a.     BP-1

b.     Reaction with Chlorine

 VII.      Relative to PABA

 VIII.   Safe Alternatives

a.     Non-nano Zinc oxide & Titanium dioxide

b.     What if countries did ban oxybenzone? How much would the risk be reduced?

 IX.   Conclusions

Oxybenzone is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant.

This is because of its properties:

• insoluble in water

• photostable

• phototoxic

• bioaccumulative

• readily absorbed via dermal and oral routes

Oxybenzone is found in 97% of Americans.

It acts as an endocrine disruptor, mimicking the hormone estrogen, acting as a birth control pill to organisms, often leading to reproductive diseases and sterility.

It is found primarily in sunscreens, but can be found in over 3,500 skincare products worldwide.

Oxybenzone (BP-3) Properties

Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) was created from its parent chemical, benzophenone, to make a chemical that absorbs lower wavelengths.

Oxybenzone is produced by a Friedel-Crafts reaction of benzoyl chloride with 3-methoxyphenol to absorb lower energy radiation.

It is an aromatic hydrocarbon that quickly became popular because of its:

1. rose-like scent, and

2. stability in sunlight.

Why is it used?

Absorbs a lower range of UV rays: UVA rays

• Short-wave UVB: 290-320 nm

• Short-wave UVA: 320-340 nm

• Very photostable

Benzophenone