Harmful UV Protection: Solar Creams Can Harm Marine Life, According to Experts

In recent years, concerns about the environmental impact of sunscreen have been growing. Sunscreen chemicals, designed to protect our skin from harmful UV rays, are causing harm to sensitive marine ecosystems. This has led to local, regional, and national bans of certain chemical ingredients.

One major health concern is the potential for endocrine disruption linked to some chemicals, particularly oxybenzone and octinoxate. These substances are known to disrupt hormonal balance in both people and marine life, potentially leading to reproductive issues and other health problems.

Studies suggest that a range of chemicals, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, should be avoided during pregnancy due to their endocrine-disrupting potential. Furthermore, these chemicals are a common pollutant in waters across the world, even in far-flung locales like Antarctica.

An estimated 6,000 to 14,000 metric tons of UV filtering chemicals are released annually into coastal regions with coral reefs. Sunscreen chemicals wash off beachgoers' or sunbathers' bodies or enter the environment via wastewater. The European Union has placed limits on the use of oxybenzone and homosalate, and the Australian government has flagged the same chemicals for restrictions due to health concerns.

Despite these concerns, not all sunscreens are harmful. David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group, suggests using mineral-based sunscreens as the safest option, both from a health and environmental perspective. However, he stresses that decisions on use should be based on what works best for each person.

Research also suggests that inorganic sunscreens containing nanoparticles can get into the blood, and knowledge gaps remain, particularly for acute and chronic exposure data of organic UV filters for freshwater organisms. Credible, standardized testing is urgently needed for sunscreens to ensure they are truly safe for the environment.

It's important to note that some "reef-safe" sunscreens may not always meet safety goals, and some labels may amount to greenwashing. Additionally, numerous studies have outlined the ways in which corals, seagrass, fish, and other marine organisms are susceptible to sunscreen chemical ingredients.

Current research indicates that alternative, "cleaner" sunscreens—especially those marketed as "natural" (e.g., plant oils)—show little to no effective UVB protection in rigorous in vitro and in vivo studies. Nanotechnology (e.g., titanium dioxide nanoparticles) presents no penetration into deeper skin layers at typical consumer concentrations, but some evidence of genotoxic effects exists in vitro/in vivo studies, though real-life relevance remains unclear due to heterogeneous data and exposure scenarios.

In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration assessed that only zinc oxide and titanium oxide are "generally recognized as safe and effective." However, specific ingredients and concentrations are often not listed on product bottles or squeeze tubes, which puts users worried about environmental and potential health effects in a tricky spot.

Recent research has also found that sunscreen ingredients like phenols and parabens could increase the risk of hypertension during pregnancy. With these findings, it's crucial for consumers to make informed decisions about the sunscreens they use.

In conclusion, while sunscreen is essential for protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays, it's important to consider the environmental impact of the chemicals used in these products. By choosing mineral-based sunscreens and being aware of the potential risks associated with certain chemicals, we can help protect both our health and the health of our oceans.