AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE)
Sunscreen Agent; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; UV ABSORBER; UV FILTER
Also listed as
BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, AVOBENZONE; 4-TERT-BUTYL-4'-METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE; 1- (4-TERT-BUTYLPHENYL) -3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) PROPANE-1,3-DIONE; 1- [4- (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL) PHENYL] -3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) -1,3-PROPANEDIONE; 1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 2-BUTYL-2-METHOXY-1,3-DIPHENYL-; 1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 1- [4- (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL) PHENYL] -3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) -; 2-BUTYL-2-METHOXY-1,3-DIPHENYL- 1,3-PROPANEDIONE; 1- [4- (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL) PHENYL] -3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) - 1,3-PROPANEDIONE; METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE; 1,3PROPANEDIONE, 1 [4 (1,1DIMETHYLETHYL) PHENYL] 3 (4METHOXYPHENYL) ; 1- [4- (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL) PHENYL] -3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) PROPANE-1,3-DIONE
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
 | Contamination concerns - BENZOIC ACID, 4-T-BUTYLBENZOIC ACID, BENZALDEHYDE, P-ANISIC ACID, ACETOPHENONE, DIBENZOYLMETHANE |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Data gaps |
|
See products containing AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) | |
About AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE): Sunlight causes this unstable ingredient to break down into unknown chemicals, especially in the presence of another active, Octinoxate. Primarily a UVA-absorbing agent.
ingredient UV blocking strength
| common sunscreen concentrations |
UV blocking strength |
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1.0% |
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1.5% |
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2.0% |
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2.5% |
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3.0% |
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5.0% |
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10.0% |
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AVOBENZONE (PARSOL 1789 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) has reported used in the following product types: sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (388); facial moisturizer/treatment (321); sunscreen: moisturizer (199); sunscreen: SPF greater than 30 (193); fragrance for women (185); anti-aging (155); moisturizer (87); body spray (68); fragrance for men (67); sunless tanning (42)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | Damiani, E, 1999 |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Associated with immunotoxicity | Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA, 1996 |
Enhanced skin absorption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Absorbs into the skin | Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008 |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 104 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Decreased skin absorption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited potential to absorb into the skin. | Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS, 2005 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 1-[4-(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)PHENYL] -3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | 1,3-PROPANEDIONE, 1-[4-(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)PHENYL]-3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)- | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | 4-TERT-BUTYL-4'-METHOXY DIBENZOYLMETHANE | •Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) |
| Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS, 2005 | AVOBENZONE (BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE) | A 1% solution of avobenzone was applied to samples of human epidermis in vitro; less than 1/1000th of the applied chemical was detected within viable skin cells. |
| Roscher N, Lindemann M, Kong S, Cho C, Jiang P, 1994 | AVOBENZONE | In sunlight, breaks down into several chemicals, likely including methoxybenzoic acid, tert-butylbenzoic acid, tert-butylbenzene (Roscher 1994; Dondi 2006) and other benzaldehydes, benzoic acids, acetophenones, phenylglyoxals, benzils, dibenzoyl methanes |
| Damiani, E, 1999 | PARASOL 1789 | Damage to DNA due to Parasol 1789 with exposure to UVA light |
| Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA, 1996 | AVOBENZONE | Reports of photoallergy are rare, and are limited to sensitive individuals |
| Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE | At 4.4 mg/cm(2) coverage of UV filter on the baby mouse skin, 0.80 +/- 0.28 % of the applied BMBM was detected in the receptor fluid at 24 h after application. |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau. |
| Open scientific literature | Hayden CGJ, Cross SE, Anderson C, Saunders NA, Roberts MS. 2005. Sunscreen penetration of human skin and related keratinocyte toxicity after topical application. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 18(4): 170-174. |
| Open scientific literature | Roscher N, Lindemann M, Kong S, Cho C, Jiang P. 1994. Photodecomposition of several compounds commonly used as sunscreen agents. J Photochem Photobiol A 80: 417-421; Dondi D, Albini A, Serpone N. 2006. Interactions between different solar UVB/UVA filters contained in commercial suncreams and consequent loss of UV protection. Photochem Photobiol Sci 5(9): 835-843; Schwack W, Rudolph T. 1995. Photochemistry of dibenzoyl methane UVA filters part I. J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 28: 229-234. |
| Open scientific literature | Damiani, E., L. Greci, et al. (1999). "Nitroxide radicals protect dna from damage when illuminated in vitro in the presence of dibenzoylmethane and a common sunscreen ingredient." Free Radical Biology and Medicine 26: 809-816. |
| Open scientific literature | Stitt WZD, Scott GA, Martin RE, Gaspari AA. 1996. Multiple chemical sensitivities, including inatrogenic allergic contact dermatitis, in a patient with chronic actinic dermatitis: implication for management. American Journal of Contact Dermatitis 7(3): 166-170.; Buckley D, Wayte J, O |
| Open scientific literature | Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP. Transdermal penetration of UV filters. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 21 (1):23-9. |
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