Jaskulak Marta, Cinkusz Marlena, Franchuk Karina, Zorena Katarzyna
Department of Immunobiology and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Curr Environ Health Rep. 2025 Aug 2;12(1):28. doi: 10.1007/s40572-025-00492-9.
Chemical (organic) ultraviolet (UV) filters-carbon-based compounds widely used in sunscreen formulations-are essential for protecting against harmful UV radiation. However, emerging evidence over the last decade (2014-2024) has raised concerns regarding their potential endocrine-disrupting effects, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation. This comprehensive review evaluates the endocrine, reproductive, and developmental health impacts of organic UV filters, with a focus on benzophenone derivatives such as BP-3, BP-2, and 4-OHBP.
The analysis incorporates data from 75 studies identified through PRISMA-guided screening of epidemiological and human research. Findings reveal significant hormonal disruptions, including reduced testosterone levels in adolescent males, altered thyroid hormones in pregnant women, and associations with delayed pubertal development in boys and early menarche in girls. Mixed exposures to multiple UV filters, frequently occurring in real-world scenarios, demonstrate cumulative and complex effects, particularly on thyroid hormone levels and reproductive health. In men, benzophenones are associated with decreased sperm quality and motility, while in women, their impact on ovarian reserve and fertility outcomes appears less pronounced. Prenatal exposure studies show mixed outcomes, ranging from reduced neonatal size and gestational age to increased placental-to-birth weight ratios. This review underscores the dual nature of organic UV filters, emphasizing their importance in photoprotection while highlighting the need for a balanced approach to safety evaluations. Future research should prioritize long-term cohort studies, assessments of mixed exposure effects, and the development of safer alternatives. Addressing these challenges is crucial for mitigating risks to human health and the environment while maintaining the protective benefits of sunscreens.
化学（有机）紫外线（UV）滤光剂——广泛用于防晒配方的碳基化合物——对于抵御有害紫外线辐射至关重要。然而，过去十年（2014 - 2024年）出现的新证据引发了人们对其潜在内分泌干扰作用、环境持久性和生物累积性的担忧。本综述全面评估了有机紫外线滤光剂对内分泌、生殖和发育健康的影响，重点关注二苯甲酮衍生物，如BP - 3、BP - 2和4 - OHBP。
该分析纳入了通过PRISMA指导的流行病学和人体研究筛选确定的75项研究的数据。研究结果显示存在显著的激素干扰，包括青春期男性睾酮水平降低、孕妇甲状腺激素改变，以及与男孩青春期发育延迟和女孩初潮提前的关联。在现实场景中经常出现的多种紫外线滤光剂的混合暴露显示出累积和复杂的影响，特别是对甲状腺激素水平和生殖健康的影响。在男性中，二苯甲酮与精子质量和活力下降有关，而在女性中，它们对卵巢储备和生育结果的影响似乎不太明显。产前暴露研究结果不一，从新生儿体型减小和孕周缩短到胎盘与出生体重比增加。本综述强调了有机紫外线滤光剂的双重性质，强调了它们在光保护中的重要性，同时突出了采取平衡的安全评估方法的必要性。未来的研究应优先进行长期队列研究、评估混合暴露影响以及开发更安全的替代品。应对这些挑战对于降低对人类健康和环境的风险同时保持防晒霜的保护益处至关重要。
