Comprehensive review of avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) toxicology data and human exposure assessment for personal care products.
Avobenzone, a common UV filter, has a strong safety profile. Despite concerns, extensive research shows minimal toxicity, low absorption, and no evidence of carcinogenicity, supporting its continued use in sunscreens.
This comprehensive review examines the toxicology and human exposure data for avobenzone, a widely used UV filter in sunscreen products. The analysis of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies demonstrates that avobenzone has a suitable safety profile, with no clear markers of toxicity or endpoints of concern. While a harmonized dermal absorption value was not available, the data indicate low percutaneous absorption in humans (≤0.59% of the applied dose). The review also identified four tentative metabolites and limited urinary excretion. Avobenzone generally did not cause dermal irritation or sensitization, but some indications of photoallergy were reported. The acute toxicity profile showed minimal toxicity, and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for general toxicity was 450 mg/kg/day in rats. There was no evidence of effects on the immune system or endocrine function. Although formal carcinogenicity studies were lacking, the available data suggest that key events for carcinogenic modes of action are absent, and the risk of carcinogenicity in humans is unlikely. Overall, this