In early 2019, the FDA released a report that reviewed the safety of sunscreen products. Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and octyl methoxycinnamamte (OMC) two chemical UV filters, active ingredients that absorb UV light, were considered as lacking too much information to have a final decision. Both these chemicals have also been classified as endocrine disruptors, compounds that mimic hormones and interfere with the endocrine system, and in this case specifically mimicking estrogen. Most concerning to human development is that BP-3 and OMC have been found past the placental barrier or suggested to have multi-generational effects.

This study modeled maternal exposure in Drosophila melanogaster. Female D. melanogaster were exposed to varying concentrations of BP-3, OMC, and estradiol to determine possible developmental effects and possibly categorize BP-3 and OMC as endocrine disruptors. It also sought to expand on the results of a previous study which found that low doses, half the human plasma concentration, of BP-3 and OMC significantly decreased the size of D. melanogaster eggs by using lower and updated doses. Originally, the size, number of eggs, larvae, pupae, and sex of adult flies were going to be recorded but the lack of viable eggs limited data to only include egg size.

The results of this study were ambiguous, no statistically significant differences in egg size were observed between any groups, implying that BP-3, OMC, and estradiol had no effect. This calls the results of the previous study into question but does not raise any concerns about developmental effects of BP-3 or OMC.