THE TOXICITY OF SELECTED SUNSCREENS TO BRACHIONUS CALYCIFLORUS

In this study the toxicity of selected sunscreens belonging to two chemical groups: i.e. derivatives of cinnamic acid and of benzoic acid was assessed. The compounds are found in suncare products (creams, balms and lotions) and in other cosmetics (antiwrinkle creams or lipsticks). Two of them (octyl methoxycinnamate and octyl (dimethylamino)benzoate) are approved for use as ingredients of cosmetic products in the European Union countries. The Rotoxkit F Chronic bioassay was used to evaluate the toxicity of seven compounds, the organisms (the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus) being hatched from dormant eggs purchased from MicroBioTests (R), (Belgium). Two of the study compounds octyl methoxycinnamate and octyl (dimethylamino)benzoate proved to be the most toxic to rotifers. The toxicity correlated highly with the aliphatic chain structure and lipophilic properties of the compounds as the substances with the highest log P value and a high affinity for lipids, i.e. octyl methoxycinnamate and octyl (dimethylamino)benzoate, demonstrated the highest toxicity.