Z-Cote is a commercial
zinc oxide line[1] manufactured and owned by
BASF.[2] Due to Z-Cote's
photo-protective properties it is commonly used in
personal care products and sunscreens. It is available in nano, non-nano, coated and uncoated forms.[3] Z-Cote is a derivative of zinc oxide which is
Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) by the FDA as a nutrient,[4] cosmetic colour additive,[5][6] skin protection active ingredient[7] and other OTC products.[8] Manufactured zinc oxide, such as Z-Cote, is only recognised as GRASE by the FDA when it is compliant with the
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) standard. The original Sunsmart and Submicro Encapsulation Technologies Z-Cote patent filed in 1991 for UV skin protection expired in 2015.[9]
History
Z-Cote was acquired from SunSmart in 1999 by BASF.[10][11] It has been used in sunscreen formulations since at least 1993 in microfine form.[12] The initial 1991 Z-Cote patent placed emphasis on broad-spectrum protection, especially UVA.[9] Only in 1993 did the FDA approve an alternative petrochemical sunscreen ingredient, avobenzone, that also provided protection against UVA.[13][14]
Environmental impact
Plants
Z-Cote was studied to evaluate hypothetical agricultural impacts if it were to contaminate irrigated water. In the study it was found that Z-Cote had a negligible impact on
bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) pod production and increased root length and the concentration of more nutritional elements.[15]
Reef
Zinc oxide is compliant with Hawaii Act 104 banning non-reef safe petrochemicals.[16]
^Yin, Hong; Coleman, Victoria A.; Casey, Phil S.; Angel, Brad; Catchpoole, Heather J.; Waddington, Lynne; McCall, Maxine J. (2015-02-17). "A comparative study of the physical and chemical properties of nano-sized ZnO particles from multiple batches of three commercial products". Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 17 (2): 96.
doi:
10.1007/s11051-014-2851-y.
ISSN1572-896X.
S2CID95188994.
^
abUS 5733531, Mitchnick, Mark A.; Gwozdz, Garry T. & Micale, Fortunato J., "Composite UV sunblock compositions", published 1998-03-31, assigned to Sunsmart Inc. and Submicro Encapsulation Technologies Inc.
^US 5417961, Nearn, Malcolm R.; Redshaw, Sandra J. & Burgess, Graham, "Sunscreen compositions", published 1995-05-23, assigned to
Colgate-Palmolive Company