Body & Beauty / Compounds / Benzophenone-1 (UV-0)

Benzophenone-1 (UV-0) on your skin: a safety profile

Moderate risk

(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Benzophenone-1 presents a low to moderate risk to human adults. The parent compound benzophenone is IARC Group 2A, though the mechanism (alpha-2u-globulin; hepatic) may be rat-specific. BP-1 itself has not been assigned an IARC group but has been removed from EU permitted cosmetics UV filters due to significant systemic dermal absorption and estrogenic activity (weak ERα agonist). The SCCS concluded BP-1 is not safe in sunscreen products. US FDA has also questioned the GRASE status of benzophenone UV filters. For adults, the primary concern from cosmetic use is cumulative endocrine disruptor burden from estrogenic UV filters (alongside BP-3/oxybenzone and other benzophenones). Non-cosmetic exposures from plastics and coatings are generally lower. Thyroid disruption at higher exposures is an additional concern.

What is benzophenone-1 (uv-0)?

The IUPAC name is (2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone.

Also known as: (2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone, 2,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOPHENONE, Benzoresorcinol, Resbenzophenone.

IUPAC name
(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-phenylmethanone
CAS number
131-56-6
Molecular formula
C13H10O3
Molecular weight
214.22 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)C2=C(C=C(C=C2)O)O
PubChem CID
8572

Risk for people

Moderate risk

Benzophenone-1 presents a low to moderate risk to human adults. The parent compound benzophenone is IARC Group 2A, though the mechanism (alpha-2u-globulin; hepatic) may be rat-specific. BP-1 itself has not been assigned an IARC group but has been removed from EU permitted cosmetics UV filters due to significant systemic dermal absorption and estrogenic activity (weak ERα agonist). The SCCS concluded BP-1 is not safe in sunscreen products. US FDA has also questioned the GRASE status of benzophenone UV filters. For adults, the primary concern from cosmetic use is cumulative endocrine disruptor burden from estrogenic UV filters (alongside BP-3/oxybenzone and other benzophenones). Non-cosmetic exposures from plastics and coatings are generally lower. Thyroid disruption at higher exposures is an additional concern.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Benzophenone-1 (UV-0).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2020Not evaluated independently — the parent compound benzophenone (CAS 119-61-9) was classified IARC Group 2A (possibly carcinogenic to humans — IARC Monographs Volume 101, 2013); benzophenone-1 (2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone; BP-1; UV-0) is a hydroxylated benzophenone UV absorber assessed by SCCS in cosmetics; exhibits estrogenic activity in vitro; EU regulatory concern as potential endocrine disruptor

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 you encounter benzophenone-1 (uv-0)

  • 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 Benzophenone-1 (UV-0):

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

Frequently asked questions

What products contain benzophenone-1 (uv-0)?

Benzophenone-1 (UV-0) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); sunscreen (Personal care).

See Benzophenone-1 (UV-0) in the body app

Look up products containing benzophenone-1 (uv-0), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in body View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. SCCS Opinion SCCS/1623/20 Benzophenone-1 UV Filter Cosmetics Not Safe Systemic Absorption; IARC Volume 101 2013 Benzophenone Parent Compound Group 2A; ERalpha Estrogenic Activity Weak; EU Cosmetics Annex VI Removal; FDA GRASE Rulemaking OTC Sunscreen 2019; Thyroid Disruption; WWTP Aquatic Detection Vitellogenin Fish; Oxybenzone BP-3 Class Concern (2020) — 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 →