Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency has identified a hormone-disrupting chemical in a widely-used sunscreen ingredient in a new Danish study. They are now urging the European Union to consider stricter regulations on its use. The substance is still legally allowed in personal care products sold across the EU.
UV Filter Found to Be Hormone Disruptor in Danish Study
Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency says a common sunscreen ingredient may disrupt human hormones. Its new assessment of benzophenone-3 (BP-3), also known as oxybenzone, found troubling evidence of hormone interference.
BP-3 is widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics to block UV rays, but researchers from the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark confirm the same concerns. In response, Denmark is urging the European Union to tighten regulations on the chemical.
New Danish Study Raise Concerns
The Environmental Protection Agency’s conclusion is based largely on laboratory studies involving rodents and fish. These studies showed diminished sperm quality and disruptions to sexual development and reproductive cycles in exposed animals. While these findings do not directly equate to effects in humans, they raise enough concern to justify greater scrutiny under EU law.
For now, BP-3 is still allowed in cosmetics across the European Union as long as products meet the current limits. EU rules permit up to 6 percent BP-3 in face and hand creams, and up to 2.2 percent in other products. But that could soon change. Denmark’s new analysis has prompted the government to ask the EU to review those limits – a move that may lead to stricter rules if Brussels agrees.
Denmark Leads Push for EU Action
Denmark is now the first country within the European Union to present formal scientific evidence classifying BP-3 as a potential endocrine disruptor. The Nordic country aims to have the substance added to the EU’s official list of hormone-disrupting chemicals. If the European Chemicals Agency agrees, BP-3 could be subject to additional safety reviews and ultimately restricted or banned.
Scientists are still reviewing the potential dangers of BP-3, but they stress that current concerns stem from the chemical’s properties rather than proven health effects from normal sunscreen use. In other words, simply applying sunscreen containing BP-3 doesn’t automatically pose a risk.
Even so, health authorities recommend a cautious approach. They note that certain groups – including pregnant women and those trying to conceive – may want to limit exposure until more research clarifies how the substance interacts with the body over time.
Advice for Consumers
Given the precautionary concerns, the Environmental Protection Agency is urging pregnant women and women who are planning pregnancies to be particularly mindful of the ingredients in the skincare and sunscreen products they use. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances during pregnancy can potentially affect the fetus during critical stages of development.
People who wish to avoid BP-3 should check product ingredient lists for names such as benzophenone-3, oxybenzone, or 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone. These names indicate the presence of the chemical.
How to Identify Safer Products
Consumers looking for BP-3-free options can look for products certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which excludes the use of known or suspected hormone-disrupting substances. Additionally, a mobile app developed by the Danish Consumer Council called “Kemiluppen” allows users to scan product barcodes to check for problematic chemicals, including BP-3.
The discussion around BP-3 isn’t limited to Denmark – it’s a global issue. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is also examining the chemical’s safety. Studies show that BP-3 can pass through the skin and show up in blood and urine samples, but scientists still don’t know whether those levels are harmful.
A 2023 Danish study from Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency found BP-3 in roughly a quarter of all sunscreens sold in the country. The finding shows just how widespread the ingredient is in the global beauty industry, stretching from Europe to North America.
What Comes Next
The push by Denmark to reclassify BP-3 could lead to a broader EU review, potentially resulting in new safety requirements, warning labels, or bans on certain product formulations. It would also align with Europe’s stated goal of phasing out substances deemed harmful to human health and the environment under its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
Although the EU makes the final call on chemical regulations, Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency plays a key role in driving the process. The agency conducts assessments, gathers data, and pushes for stronger safety standards when risks emerge. For now, BP-3 remains legal in personal care products across the EU, as long as manufacturers stay within current concentration limits.
Health officials urge consumers to pay attention to product labels, especially for cosmetics and sunscreens used often or in large amounts, and to stay informed as new research and regulations develop.
