Oxybenzone, a Chemical Used in Sunscreen, Was Detected in 96% of Children Tested. Higher Levels Were Linked to Early Puberty
Researchers in Wuhan, China, tested the urine of 596 children. Australia still uses oxybenzone in sunscreen. The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling on Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), to ban oxybenzone in sunscreen, citing the TGA's own finding that oxybenzone "is not deemed to present a low risk to human health and safety".
A new study from Wuhan Children's Hospital in China has looked at oxybenzone, a chemical used in sunscreen, and early puberty. The researchers compared 298 children aged 6 to 12 with precocious, or early, puberty with 298 healthy children of the same age and sex (Fan et al., 2026, pp. 1-2). That is 596 children in all. The study was published online on 3 June 2026 in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
The researchers tested each child's urine for five chemicals in the benzophenone family. One is oxybenzone, also called benzophenone-3 or BP-3. Oxybenzone is a chemical UV filter used in sunscreen.
Oxybenzone was detected in 96% of the samples. In the researchers' words: "Detection frequencies of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3) reached 100% and 96%, respectively" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 1).
Higher oxybenzone levels were associated with higher odds of early puberty (Fan et al., 2026, p. 4). Children in the top three quarters of exposure had about twice the odds of early puberty of children in the lowest quarter. The study reported "ORs (95% CI) of 1.95 (1.16–3.30), 2.34 (1.35–4.04), and 2.09 (1.24–3.50) for Q2–Q4" (Fan et al., 2026, pp. 3–4).
The association was stronger for central precocious puberty, the form that starts in the brain. That form made up 154 of the 298 cases (Fan et al., 2026, p. 2). For central early puberty, "elevated ORs for BP−3 were identified in Q2–Q4, with ORs (95% CIs) of 3.19 (1.38–7.38), 2.56 (1.13–5.77), and 3.00 (1.37–6.54)" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 4). That is about two and a half to three times the odds. "No significant associations were identified for RPP and PCPP," the two other forms (Fan et al., 2026, p. 4).
Across the benzophenones they measured, the researchers wrote: "ORs of BPs were elevated in Q2–Q4 relative to Q1, but the magnitudes did not increase monotonically across quartiles" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 5).
What the researchers found
"These findings suggest a potential association between BP exposure and childhood pubertal development, warranting prospective studies to confirm temporality and evaluate BP exposure as a possible risk factor for PP," the researchers wrote (Fan et al., 2026, p. 1). They added: "The case-control design and single‑spot urine sampling preclude causal inference" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 8).
The researchers also wrote: "Sensitivity analyses showed that BP− 1, BP− 3, and 4-OHBP were associated with PP after excluding cosmetic users, and only 4-OHBP remained significant after further adjusting for sampling season, consistent with the primary findings" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 4).
They added: "When BPs were analyzed as continuous variables, only 4-OHBP remained significantly associated with CPP" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 4).
And: "It is also possible that pubertal status itself, or related behaviors such as personal care product use, may have influenced the measured urinary BP [benzophenone] concentrations" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 8).
The researchers wrote: "Because the control group consisted of apparently healthy children undergoing routine health examinations, invasive endocrine evaluations such as blood hormone testing were not carried out. Therefore, some degree of outcome misclassification cannot be fully excluded" (Fan et al., 2026, p. 8).
What regulators already found
The Wuhan study adds to earlier regulator findings on oxybenzone and hormones.
A 2021 draft review for Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), looked at the research. It said "several studies published in 2020 support previous findings that oxybenzone can act as an endocrine disruptor and may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis" (Therapeutic Goods Administration [TGA], 2021, p. 17). An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that can interfere with hormones.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found oxybenzone gets into the body. Oxybenzone "is absorbed through the skin to a greater extent than previously understood and can lead to significant systemic exposure", the FDA wrote (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2019, p. 6206). The FDA cited data showing oxybenzone was detected in human breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine and blood plasma (FDA, 2019, p. 6206). In 2019 the US FDA found the long-used chemical filters, including oxybenzone, homosalate, avobenzone and octocrylene, lacked enough safety data to be classed safe and effective (FDA, 2019, p. 6206).
Thailand has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone from its national parks since 4 August 2021, to protect coral (Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation [DNP], 2021, p. 1).
Australia still uses oxybenzone
Australia still uses oxybenzone in sunscreen. Australian sunscreens can still contain up to 10% oxybenzone (TGA, 2025a, p. 61). As of 26 June 2025, 39 medicines on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, including sunscreens, contained oxybenzone as an active ingredient, the TGA counted (TGA, 2025b, p. 13).
The TGA has proposed a new CAUTION (Schedule 5) entry for oxybenzone (TGA, 2025b, p. 11). That would mean products with oxybenzone, unless exempt, would need the word "Caution" on the main label and could not be listed medicines. In the TGA's words, such products "require a Caution signal word on the main label and cannot be in Listed medicines" (TGA, 2025b, p. 11). Submissions closed on 12 August 2025, and no decision has been made. The TGA says "The interim decision on these ingredients will be published and subject to public consultation by the end of 2026" (TGA, n.d.).
The Australian Sunscreen Council is calling on the TGA to ban oxybenzone in sunscreen. One reason is the TGA's own finding that oxybenzone "is not deemed to present a low risk to human health and safety when used at the highest maximum permitted concentration of 10% in therapeutic sunscreens" (TGA, 2025a, p. 61).
The TGA's safety review also found that "for a general sunscreen product, the acceptable concentration of Oxybenzone would be 1%" (TGA, 2025a, p. 59). Australian sunscreens can contain up to 10%, ten times that level (TGA, 2025a, p. 61).
The Australian Sunscreen Council's position is that "low risk" does not mean safe, and that oxybenzone's benefits don't outweigh its risks when a reef-safe, GRASE alternative like non-nano zinc oxide exists.
Non-nano zinc oxide is the only broad-spectrum UV filter that is reef safe and Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) by the US FDA (NOAA, n.d.; NPS, n.d.; FDA, 2019, p. 6206; Beasley & Meyer, 2010; Hanrahan, 2012).
About the Australian Sunscreen Council
The Australian Sunscreen Council is a registered Australian charity dedicated to improving the health of everyday Australians through UV education, research and evidence-based sun safety initiatives.
As Australia’s peak industry body for sunscreen safety, the Council works with scientists, medical professionals, industry experts and policymakers to advance sunscreen safety, support independent research, improve public understanding of UV exposure and promote stronger public-health standards.
ABN 64 692 134 982
Australian Sunscreen Council Editorial Team
The Council is supported by an Expert Group and may draw on advice from one or more members depending on the subject matter of a particular article, submission or publication. Members listed by the Council include (Australian Sunscreen Council, n.d.):
Dr Craig Downs, Executive Director, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory
Dr Russell Hills, cosmetic and laser dermatologist and Mohs specialist
Dr Denis Dudley, obstetrician-gynaecologist and endocrinologist
Dr Abhinandan “Rocky” Chowdhury, toxicologist
Dr Leslie Laquieze, sunscreen testing and photoprotection
Mgr. Mehrdad Mirzaei, pharmacist and photoprotection researcher
Joseph DiNardo, cosmetic toxicologist
Dr Alan Jones, skin cancer physician
Camila Biato Stopa, MSc, cosmetic scientist and pharmacist
Acknowledgment
Grok was used in the creation of this article. Always read the sunscreen label and use only as directed. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats, and eyewear.
References
Australian Sunscreen Council. (n.d.). Scientific experts in sunscreen safety. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/scientific-experts-sunscreen-safety
Beasley, D. G., & Meyer, T. A. (2010). Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 11(6), 413–421. https://doi.org/10.2165/11537050-000000000-00000
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. (2021, June 24). ประกาศกรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช เรื่อง ห้ามนำและใช้ครีมกันแดดที่มีส่วนประกอบของสารเคมีที่เป็นอันตรายต่อปะการังเข้าไปในอุทยานแห่งชาติ [Announcement prohibiting bringing in and using sunscreen containing chemicals harmful to coral in national parks]. Royal Thai Government Gazette, 138(Special 175 ง), 1. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tha211144.pdf
Fan, Y., Chen, X., Xiong, Z., Zhang, H., Xiao, X., Zhang, P., Chen, L., Ma, X., Huang, Y., Li, R., & Liu, H. (2026). Benzophenones exposure and precocious puberty in Chinese children: A case-control study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 322, Article 120329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120329 (Open access; licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Hanrahan, J. R. (2012). Sunscreens. Australian Prescriber, 35(5), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2012.068
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Skincare chemicals and marine life. National Ocean Service. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Sunscreen. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.nps.gov/subjects/oceans/sunscreen.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (n.d.). Sunscreen ingredients. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/sunscreens/sunscreen-ingredients
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2021). Literature review of seven sunscreen active ingredients [Draft; released under FOI 25-0104]. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/FOI%2025-0104.pdf
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025a). Safety review of seven active sunscreen ingredients [May 2025; released under FOI 26-2156, Document 4]. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/FOI%2026-2156.PDF
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025b). Pre-meeting public notice: Joint ACMS-ACCS #41, homosalate, oxybenzone, benzophenone [Public notice, September 2025]. https://consultations.tga.gov.au/tga/scheduling-pre-meeting-sunscreen-substances-sep-25/user_uploads/pre-meeting-public-notice---joint-41---homosalate-oxybenzone-benzophenone---sep-2025-1.pdf
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019, February 26). Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use (Proposed rule, 84 Fed. Reg. 6204; Docket No. FDA-1978-N-0018). Federal Register. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-26/pdf/2019-03019.pdf
