Baby Safety / Compounds / Avobenzone

Is Avobenzone safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Avobenzone than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is avobenzone?

The IUPAC name is 1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione.

Also known as: 1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione, Parsol 1789, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Escalol 517.

IUPAC name
1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
CAS number
70356-09-1
Molecular formula
C20H22O3
Molecular weight
310.4 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C)(C)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)CC(=O)C2=CC=C(C=C2)OC
PubChem CID
51040

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Avobenzone than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Elevated risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Avobenzone, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Avobenzone. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
WHO2021no carcinogenicity classification; UV-A sunscreen filter without recognized carcinogenicity assessment; FDA Category III (insufficient data for GRASE determination pending additional safety studies)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter avobenzone

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Personal Care — sunscreen, moisturizer with SPF, foundation, lip balm

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Avobenzone:

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is avobenzone safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Avobenzone than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain avobenzone?

Avobenzone appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); sunscreen (Personal care).

What should I do if my child is exposed to avobenzone?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about avobenzone?

Avobenzone has been classified by 3 agencies including WHO, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Avobenzone in the baby app

Look up products containing avobenzone, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. FDA 2019 Proposed OTC Sunscreen Rule: Avobenzone Category III Insufficient Data GRASE; Systemic Absorption >0.5 ng/mL Threshold; Additional Safety Studies Required; Endocrine Estrogenic Activity In Vitro (2019) — regulatory
  2. Hawaii Act 104 Reef Protection Sunscreen 2021: Oxybenzone Octinoxate Banned; Avobenzone Photodegradation Products; Coral Bleaching Aquatic Toxicity; UV Filter Environmental Fate Shallow Marine (2021) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →