Cosmetics & SPF · Ingredient test

ReeFilter, acute coral ecotox on SPF ingredients

ReeFilter is the live-coral acute ecotoxicity test we run on individual SPF ingredients, primarily UV filters and waterproofing agents. The data ingredient suppliers and formulation scientists need before committing a filter to a formulation.

In cosmetics, UV filter testing for coral toxicity means exposing live corals to a sunscreen UV-filter ingredient at environmentally realistic concentrations and measuring biological endpoints, bleaching, deformity, DNA damage, mortality. (This is distinct from camera "UV filter testing," which assesses photographic lens filters.) It produces the dose-response data behind reef-protection regulation and substantiated environmental claims.

Reviewed by Tatiana Thomas, R&D Engineer

Tatiana Thomas is an R&D Engineer at ReefTox's coral ecotoxicology laboratory in Brittany, France.

Macro detail of an Acropora coral colony cultivated at the ReefTox laboratory in Brittany
Each SPF ingredient is exposed to living coral fragments under controlled laboratory conditions.

Methodology

How is a UV filter tested for coral toxicity?

An open incubator-shaker holding the exposure beaker grid, with a digital temperature and timer readout
Six concentrations, six replicates and six blanks generate the dose-response curve behind EC50, LOEC and NOEC.

Duration

96 hours of contact

Coral species

1 to 3 corals

Concentrations

6 concentrations (rangefinding)

Replicates

6 replicates + 6 blanks per concentration

Endpoints

What endpoints does ReeFilter produce?

Six concentrations plus six replicates plus six blanks produce the dose-response data needed to derive EC50 (Effective Concentration 50%), LOEC (Lowest Observed Effect Concentration), and NOEC (No Observed Effect Concentration) on living coral tissue, the endpoints regulators worldwide recognise.

Coral fragments mounted on the blue ReefTox testing grid

Who ReeFilter is for

Labelled sample beakers on the ReefTox lab bench with a pipette
Formulation scientists and ingredient suppliers use ReeFilter results before a UV filter is committed to a formulation.
  • • Formulation scientists screening individual UV filters before committing to a formulation.
  • • Ingredient suppliers needing marine ecotox data on a specific UV filter.
  • • R&D teams future-proofing ingredient portfolios against Hawaii Act 104 (2021), US Virgin Islands Act 8185 (2020), and Palau RPPL 10-30 (2020) restrictions.
A red and orange Favia LPS coral on its frag plug under white light
ReeFilter tests live coral tissue. The free pre-evaluation is a predictive scoring step that runs before any coral is exposed.

Important distinction

ReeFilter is a live-coral test on SPF ingredients. The free predictive pre-evaluation is ReefTox's internal scoring methodology that runs upstream of every live-coral test. They are different products, never conflated.

UV filter testing, frequently asked questions

Coral fragments on the cultivation rack under full-spectrum white light
Is this the same as camera UV filter testing?

No. Camera "UV filter testing" assesses photographic lens filters. This is cosmetic UV-filter testing, assessing sunscreen UV-filter ingredients (oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) for coral toxicity.

Are mineral UV filters automatically reef-friendly?

No. Coating chemistry decides: uncoated zinc oxide bleaches Acropora while coated titanium-dioxide forms do not. The organic-vs-inorganic label cannot substitute for an actual coral test.

What does ReeFilter report?

ReeFilter reports EC50, LOEC, and NOEC from a 96-hour acute live-coral exposure on the UV-filter ingredient across multiple concentrations, the dose-response data behind reef-protection regulation and substantiated environmental claims.

Test a UV filter before it ships into formulation work.

A single labelled exposure beaker, code A2, holding a coral fragment
The data ingredient suppliers and formulation scientists need before a UV filter is committed to a formulation.
Request a ReeFilter quote Start with the free pre-evaluation