Hormonal activity, cytotoxicity and developmental toxicity of UV filters

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are commonly used compounds in personal care products and polymer based materials, as they can absorb solar energy in the UVA and UVB spectrum. However, they are able to bind to hormone receptors and have several and different types of hormonal activities determined by in vitro assays. One of the aims of this work was to measure the hormonal and cytotoxic activities of four frequently used UV filters using bioluminescence based yeast test organisms. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae BLYES and BLYAS strains allowed the rapid and reliable detection of agonist and antagonist hormonal activities, whereas BLYR strain served to measure cytotoxicity. Results confirmed that all tested UV filters show multiple hormonal activities. Cytotoxicity is detected only in the case of benzophenone-3. Research data on the toxic effects of benzophenone-3, especially on aquatic organisms are scarce, so further investigations were carried out regarding its cytotoxic and teratogenic effects on bacteria and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, respectively. Results revealed the cytotoxicity of benzophenone-3 not only to yeasts but to bacteria, as well as its ability to influence zebrafish embryo hatching and development.