BENZOPHENONE-2
Fragrance Ingredient; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; MASKING; UV ABSORBER
Also listed as
BIS (2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL) METHANONE; METHANONE, BIS (2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL) -; 2,2',4,4'-TETRAHYDROXYBENZOPHENONE; BIS (2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL) - METHANONE; METHANONE, BIS (2,4DIHYDROXYPHENYL) ; 2,2',4,4'-TETRAHYDROXY-BENZOPHENONE; 2,4,2',4'-TETRAHYDROXYBENZOPHENONE; BIS (2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL) METHANONE; METHANONE, BIS (2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL) - (9CI) ; UVINUL D-50
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 |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology, Data gaps, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
|
See products containing BENZOPHENONE-2 | |
About BENZOPHENONE-2: Not approved for use in United States sunscreens. Concerns about hormone disruption.
ingredient UV blocking strength
| possible* sunscreen concentrations |
UV blocking strength |
|
1.0% |
| |
5.0% |
| |
10.0% |
|
* Skin Deep does not have any concentration information for this ingredient in products. The concentrations shown are only for illustrative purposes.
BENZOPHENONE-2 has reported used in the following product types: fragrance for women (223); fragrance for men (129); body spray (50); after shave (35); moisturizer (7); facial cleanser (4); glitter (3); shampoo (3); facial moisturizer/treatment (3); anti-aging (2)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 |
| show more | ||
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at moderate doses | Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al, 2004 | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | |
| show more | ||
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- Toxicology 2005 |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | 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 | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 30 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | BENZOPHENONE-2 | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin • |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | METHANONE, BIS(2,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL)- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | BENZOPHENONE-2 (BP-2), 2,2',4,4'-TETRAHYDROXYBENZOPHENONE | HH-CAT1;WF-CAT1 |
| Rachon D, Rimoldi G, Wuttke W, 2006 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | benzophenone-2 (BP-2) at high doses may possess immunomodulatory effects and have a great impact on immunity |
| Kunz PY, Galicia HF, Fent K, 2006 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | Benzophenone-2 is weakly estrogenic in in vitro tests with rainbow trout estrogen receptor |
| Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al, 2004 | BP-2 | In vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity; increased uterine weight in immature rats |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1982 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1982 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (mouse lym) • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (mouse lym) • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2003 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Estrogenic (rat TDLo) • musculoskeletal - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Changes in uterine weight (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Estrogenic (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2005 | BENZOPHENONE-2 | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Changes in LH (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Lipids, including transport (rat TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| Open scientific literature | Rachon D, Rimoldi G, Wuttke W. 2006. In vitro effects of benzophenone-2 and octyl-methoxycinnamate on the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by murine splenocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 28(3): 501-510. |
| Open scientific literature | 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. |
| Open scientific literature | 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. |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1982 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 20,427,1982 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 1982 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 1982- 20,427,1982 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1-12, 1982-1993. Discontinued. 2(5),35,1983 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1-12, 1982-1993. Discontinued. 2(5),35,1983 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 1977- 142,119,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1973- 205,103,2004 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1973- 205,123,2004 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1973- 205,87,2004 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2005 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1973- 213,13,2005 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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