Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Safety of Oxybenzone: Putting Numbers Into Perspective

Safety of Oxybenzone: Putting Numbers Into Perspective Oxybenzone, an organic UV-B and short-wave UV-A filter, has been available for over 40 years1; it is widely used in sunscreens and other consumer products in the United States.2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the prevalence of oxybenzone exposure in the general US population to be 96.8%.3 In the past few years, oxybenzone has received increasing attention as a potentially harmful compound. Initial concerns arose when a report demonstrated systemic absorption of oxybenzone in humans at a rate of 1% to 2% after topical application.4 Similar or higher rates of cutaneous absorption in human subjects have been observed.5-9 The potential for biological effects, however, were first published in a study by Schlumpf et al10 demonstrating uterotropic effects in immature rats after oral administration of oxybenzone; it should be noted that the estrogenic effect detected was less than 1 million-fold of estradiol, the positive control used. Nonetheless, this study has served as the basis for considerable concern among the public. In assessing the potential for hormonal disruption in humans, we decided to place into perspective the doses of oxybenzone used by Schlumpf et al10 to achieve the 23% increase in uterine size reported in immature rats. We performed 2 calculations: (1) we determined the equivalent amount of sunscreen required to be used topically in humans to achieve the effective cumulative amount of oxybenzone orally administered to immature rats; and (2) we determined the number of years of daily application required to obtain the equivalent levels of oxybenzone that the experimental animals were exposed to. Methods The oral dose of oxybenzone used by Schlumpf et al10 was 1525 mg/kg/d over a 4-day period. The effective cumulative dose was 6100 mg/kg. To calculate an equivalent amount of sunscreen, the following assumptions were applied to the formula: (1) the weight of an average woman in the United States was assumed to be 74.6 kg11; (2) the absorption rate of topically applied oxybenzone, 10%, was assumed to be approximately 2%4-9; and (3) the maximum concentration of oxybenzone in sunscreen sold within the United States was assumed to be 6% (wt/vol), or 60 mg/mL.12 ([6100 mg of Oxybenzone/kg × 74.6 kg]/2%) × (1 mL of Sunscreen/60 mg of Oxybenzone) = 379 217 mL We then calculated the number of years of daily application that would be required to apply 379 217 mL of sunscreen under 3 different scenarios: Scenario 1: 100% body surface area (BSA) coverage at a standard dose of 2 mg/cm2 would require 30 mL (10 950 mL/y with daily application). Scenario 2: 100% BSA coverage at a dose of 1 mg/cm2 would requires 15 mL (5475 mL/y). Scenario 3: 25% BSA coverage at a dose of 1 mg/cm2 would require 3.75 mL (1369 mL/y). For the purposes of this estimation, a generous in-use dose of 1 mg/cm2 was used,13-16 and it was assumed that coverage of 25% of the human BSA was limited to the face, neck, hands, and arms.17 Results The numbers of years of daily application required to obtain the equivalent amount of sunscreen under the 3 scenarios are listed in the Table. Comment Our results indicate that both the application regimens and time periods required to obtain systemic levels of oxybenzone equivalent per unit of body mass are essentially unattainable. Our assumption is more conservative. For instance, the bioavailability of the oxybenzone-containing rat chow used by Schlumpf et al10 may not have been 100%, and we did not take into account the excretion of oxybenzone in humans. In fact, oxybenzone has not been demonstrated to accumulate in the plasma even after several days of topical application.6,9,18 Most relevant to this discussion, however, is that in a human study, oxybenzone did not demonstrate significant endocrine disruption, even with application of a formulation containing 10% oxybenzone.6 In fact, after 40 years of use, we are not aware of any published study that demonstrates acute toxic effects in humans with systemic absorption of oxybenzone. We do not intend for this exercise to serve as a basis from which to legitimize the extrapolation of data from immature rats to humans. In fact, basic scientific principles regarding the complexities of each respective biological system preclude this. Nonetheless, we hope that this analysis helps to place into perspective the doses reported by the in vivo study from which inappropriate conclusions have been drawn and considerable controversy has developed. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Wang, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 136 Mountain View Blvd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 (wangs@mskcc.org). Accepted for Publication: November 30, 2010. Author Contributions: All authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Wang and Burnett. Acquisition of data: Wang and Burnett. Analysis and interpretation of data: Burnett and Lim. Drafting of the manuscript: Wang and Burnett. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Wang, Burnett, and Lim. Statistical analysis: Lim. Study supervision: Wang and Lim. Financial Disclosure: None reported. References 1. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use: tentative final monograph: proposed rule. Fed Regist. 1993;58(90):28194-28302Google Scholar 2. National Library of Medicine. Household Products Database. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health; 2010 3. Calafat AM, Wong LY, Ye X, Reidy JA, Needham LL. Concentrations of the sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 in residents of the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2008;116(7):893-89718629311PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Hayden CG, Roberts MS, Benson HA. Systemic absorption of sunscreen after topical application. Lancet. 1997;350(9081):863-8649310609PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Sarveiya V, Risk S, Benson HA. Liquid chromatographic assay for common sunscreen agents: application to in vivo assessment of skin penetration and systemic absorption in human volunteers. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2004;803(2):225-23115063329PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Janjua NR, Mogensen B, Andersson AM, et al. Systemic absorption of the sunscreens benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor after whole-body topical application and reproductive hormone levels in humans. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;123(1):57-6115191542PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 7. Gustavsson Gonzalez H, Farbrot A, Lark ö O. Percutaneous absorption of benzophenone-3, a common component of topical sunscreens. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002;27(8):691-69412472548PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 8. Jiang R, Roberts MS, Collins DM, Benson HA. Absorption of sunscreens across human skin: an evaluation of commercial products for children and adults. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1999;48(4):635-63710583038PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 9. Gonzalez H, Farbrot A, Lark ö O, Wennberg AM. Percutaneous absorption of the sunscreen benzophenone-3 after repeated whole-body applications, with and without ultraviolet irradiation. Br J Dermatol. 2006;154(2):337-34016433806PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 10. Schlumpf M, Cotton B, Conscience M, Haller V, Steinmann B, Lichtensteiger W. In vitro and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens. Environ Health Perspect. 2001;109(3):239-24411333184PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 11. Ogden CL, Fryar CD, Carroll FC, Flegal KM. Advance data from Vital and Health Statistics: Mean body weight, height, and body mass index, United States 1960-2002. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad347.pdf. Accessed April 26, 2011 12. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use: final monograph, final rule. Fed Regist. 1999;64(98):27666-2769310558542PubMedGoogle Scholar 13. Wulf HC, Stender IM, Lock-Andersen J. Sunscreens used at the beach do not protect against erythema: a new definition of SPF is proposed. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1997;13(4):129-1329453080PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 14. Bech-Thomsen N, Wulf HC. Sunbathers' application of sunscreen is probably inadequate to obtain the sun protection factor assigned to the preparation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1992-1993;9(6):242-2441343224PubMedGoogle Scholar 15. Neale R, Williams G, Green A. Application patterns among participants randomized to daily sunscreen use in a skin cancer prevention trial. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(10):1319-132512374537PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 16. Autier P, Boniol M, Severi G, Dor é JF.European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Co-operative Group. Quantity of sunscreen used by European students. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144(2):288-29111251560PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 17. Lund CC, Broder NC. Estimation of areas of burns. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1944;79:352-358Google Scholar 18. Janjua NR, Kongshoj B, Andersson AM, Wulf HC. Sunscreens in human plasma and urine after repeated whole-body topical application. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008;22(4):456-46118221342PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

Safety of Oxybenzone: Putting Numbers Into Perspective

Loading next page...
 
/lp/american-medical-association/safety-of-oxybenzone-putting-numbers-into-perspective-0YRr1auVF7

References (21)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archdermatol.2011.173
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Oxybenzone, an organic UV-B and short-wave UV-A filter, has been available for over 40 years1; it is widely used in sunscreens and other consumer products in the United States.2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the prevalence of oxybenzone exposure in the general US population to be 96.8%.3 In the past few years, oxybenzone has received increasing attention as a potentially harmful compound. Initial concerns arose when a report demonstrated systemic absorption of oxybenzone in humans at a rate of 1% to 2% after topical application.4 Similar or higher rates of cutaneous absorption in human subjects have been observed.5-9 The potential for biological effects, however, were first published in a study by Schlumpf et al10 demonstrating uterotropic effects in immature rats after oral administration of oxybenzone; it should be noted that the estrogenic effect detected was less than 1 million-fold of estradiol, the positive control used. Nonetheless, this study has served as the basis for considerable concern among the public. In assessing the potential for hormonal disruption in humans, we decided to place into perspective the doses of oxybenzone used by Schlumpf et al10 to achieve the 23% increase in uterine size reported in immature rats. We performed 2 calculations: (1) we determined the equivalent amount of sunscreen required to be used topically in humans to achieve the effective cumulative amount of oxybenzone orally administered to immature rats; and (2) we determined the number of years of daily application required to obtain the equivalent levels of oxybenzone that the experimental animals were exposed to. Methods The oral dose of oxybenzone used by Schlumpf et al10 was 1525 mg/kg/d over a 4-day period. The effective cumulative dose was 6100 mg/kg. To calculate an equivalent amount of sunscreen, the following assumptions were applied to the formula: (1) the weight of an average woman in the United States was assumed to be 74.6 kg11; (2) the absorption rate of topically applied oxybenzone, 10%, was assumed to be approximately 2%4-9; and (3) the maximum concentration of oxybenzone in sunscreen sold within the United States was assumed to be 6% (wt/vol), or 60 mg/mL.12 ([6100 mg of Oxybenzone/kg × 74.6 kg]/2%) × (1 mL of Sunscreen/60 mg of Oxybenzone) = 379 217 mL We then calculated the number of years of daily application that would be required to apply 379 217 mL of sunscreen under 3 different scenarios: Scenario 1: 100% body surface area (BSA) coverage at a standard dose of 2 mg/cm2 would require 30 mL (10 950 mL/y with daily application). Scenario 2: 100% BSA coverage at a dose of 1 mg/cm2 would requires 15 mL (5475 mL/y). Scenario 3: 25% BSA coverage at a dose of 1 mg/cm2 would require 3.75 mL (1369 mL/y). For the purposes of this estimation, a generous in-use dose of 1 mg/cm2 was used,13-16 and it was assumed that coverage of 25% of the human BSA was limited to the face, neck, hands, and arms.17 Results The numbers of years of daily application required to obtain the equivalent amount of sunscreen under the 3 scenarios are listed in the Table. Comment Our results indicate that both the application regimens and time periods required to obtain systemic levels of oxybenzone equivalent per unit of body mass are essentially unattainable. Our assumption is more conservative. For instance, the bioavailability of the oxybenzone-containing rat chow used by Schlumpf et al10 may not have been 100%, and we did not take into account the excretion of oxybenzone in humans. In fact, oxybenzone has not been demonstrated to accumulate in the plasma even after several days of topical application.6,9,18 Most relevant to this discussion, however, is that in a human study, oxybenzone did not demonstrate significant endocrine disruption, even with application of a formulation containing 10% oxybenzone.6 In fact, after 40 years of use, we are not aware of any published study that demonstrates acute toxic effects in humans with systemic absorption of oxybenzone. We do not intend for this exercise to serve as a basis from which to legitimize the extrapolation of data from immature rats to humans. In fact, basic scientific principles regarding the complexities of each respective biological system preclude this. Nonetheless, we hope that this analysis helps to place into perspective the doses reported by the in vivo study from which inappropriate conclusions have been drawn and considerable controversy has developed. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Wang, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 136 Mountain View Blvd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 (wangs@mskcc.org). Accepted for Publication: November 30, 2010. Author Contributions: All authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Wang and Burnett. Acquisition of data: Wang and Burnett. Analysis and interpretation of data: Burnett and Lim. Drafting of the manuscript: Wang and Burnett. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Wang, Burnett, and Lim. Statistical analysis: Lim. Study supervision: Wang and Lim. Financial Disclosure: None reported. References 1. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use: tentative final monograph: proposed rule. Fed Regist. 1993;58(90):28194-28302Google Scholar 2. National Library of Medicine. Household Products Database. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health; 2010 3. Calafat AM, Wong LY, Ye X, Reidy JA, Needham LL. Concentrations of the sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 in residents of the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2008;116(7):893-89718629311PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Hayden CG, Roberts MS, Benson HA. Systemic absorption of sunscreen after topical application. Lancet. 1997;350(9081):863-8649310609PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Sarveiya V, Risk S, Benson HA. Liquid chromatographic assay for common sunscreen agents: application to in vivo assessment of skin penetration and systemic absorption in human volunteers. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2004;803(2):225-23115063329PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Janjua NR, Mogensen B, Andersson AM, et al. Systemic absorption of the sunscreens benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor after whole-body topical application and reproductive hormone levels in humans. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;123(1):57-6115191542PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 7. Gustavsson Gonzalez H, Farbrot A, Lark ö O. Percutaneous absorption of benzophenone-3, a common component of topical sunscreens. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002;27(8):691-69412472548PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 8. Jiang R, Roberts MS, Collins DM, Benson HA. Absorption of sunscreens across human skin: an evaluation of commercial products for children and adults. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1999;48(4):635-63710583038PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 9. Gonzalez H, Farbrot A, Lark ö O, Wennberg AM. Percutaneous absorption of the sunscreen benzophenone-3 after repeated whole-body applications, with and without ultraviolet irradiation. Br J Dermatol. 2006;154(2):337-34016433806PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 10. Schlumpf M, Cotton B, Conscience M, Haller V, Steinmann B, Lichtensteiger W. In vitro and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens. Environ Health Perspect. 2001;109(3):239-24411333184PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 11. Ogden CL, Fryar CD, Carroll FC, Flegal KM. Advance data from Vital and Health Statistics: Mean body weight, height, and body mass index, United States 1960-2002. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad347.pdf. Accessed April 26, 2011 12. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use: final monograph, final rule. Fed Regist. 1999;64(98):27666-2769310558542PubMedGoogle Scholar 13. Wulf HC, Stender IM, Lock-Andersen J. Sunscreens used at the beach do not protect against erythema: a new definition of SPF is proposed. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1997;13(4):129-1329453080PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 14. Bech-Thomsen N, Wulf HC. Sunbathers' application of sunscreen is probably inadequate to obtain the sun protection factor assigned to the preparation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1992-1993;9(6):242-2441343224PubMedGoogle Scholar 15. Neale R, Williams G, Green A. Application patterns among participants randomized to daily sunscreen use in a skin cancer prevention trial. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(10):1319-132512374537PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 16. Autier P, Boniol M, Severi G, Dor é JF.European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Co-operative Group. Quantity of sunscreen used by European students. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144(2):288-29111251560PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 17. Lund CC, Broder NC. Estimation of areas of burns. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1944;79:352-358Google Scholar 18. Janjua NR, Kongshoj B, Andersson AM, Wulf HC. Sunscreens in human plasma and urine after repeated whole-body topical application. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008;22(4):456-46118221342PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jul 1, 2011

Keywords: rats,sunscreening agents,process of absorption,administration, topical

There are no references for this article.