Knowland J, McKenzie E A, McHugh P J, Cridland N A
Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
FEBS Lett. 1993 Jun 21;324(3):309-13. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(93)80141-g.
We have tested the mutagenicity of a UV-B sunscreen ingredient called Padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA, which, chemically speaking, is identical to an industrial chemical that generates free radicals when illuminated. It is harmless in the dark but mutagenic in sunlight, attacking DNA directly. A commercial sunscreen containing Padimate-O behaves in the same way. UV-A in sunlight also excites Padimate-O, although less than UV-B. Some related compounds, including a known carcinogen, behave similarly. As mutagens may be carcinogenic, our results suggest that some sunscreens could, while preventing sunburn, contribute to sunlight-related cancers.
我们已经测试了一种名为对氨基苯甲酸辛酯（Padimate - O）的UV - B防晒成分的致突变性，从化学角度讲，它与一种在光照时会产生自由基的工业化学品相同。它在黑暗中无害，但在阳光下具有致突变性，会直接攻击DNA。含有对氨基苯甲酸辛酯的商业防晒霜也有同样的表现。阳光中的UV - A也会激发对氨基苯甲酸辛酯，尽管程度低于UV - B。一些相关化合物，包括一种已知的致癌物，也有类似表现。由于诱变剂可能具有致癌性，我们的研究结果表明，一些防晒霜在预防晒伤的同时，可能会导致与阳光相关的癌症。
