By now we should all know the importance of sunscreen, it’s a must to protect ourselves from dangerous UV radiation. But not all sunscreens are human-safe or even broadly environmentally friendly. Many of the active ingredients, or UV filters, found in sunscreens and other personal care products accumulate in marine environments and in some cases even us. Sunscreen has the potential to be harmful, so let’s talk about how and what you can do about it.
First, let’s break down the logistics of sunscreen.
Sunscreen can be broken down into two types: physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens are classified as mineral and inorganic. Physical UV filters form a physical barrier and effectively block UV radiation by reflecting UV rays. Meanwhile, chemical sunscreens are classified as organic. Chemical sunscreens actually absorb and convert UV rays into heat via a chemical reaction.
Despite both being UV filters, these types of sunscreens are vastly different. Chemical sunscreens, for example, need to have multiple UV filters combined to provide adequate protection. This is because chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays at different ranges, so various UV filters are needed for effective protection. Furthermore, mineral sunscreens give you that typical sunscreen white cast and can be hard to blend on the skin. But although chemical sunscreens are easier to blend and don’t have the white cast physical sunscreens do, they don’t provide the same protection as physical sunscreens.
But if sunscreen is meant to protect, how is it harmful?
Many studies have pointed out the toxic qualities of certain sunscreen ingredients and how that’s affecting our environment and us. These harmful ingredients bioaccumulate in living things after finding their way into the environment. Exposure to sunscreen essentially impacts living things in three ways: it impacts survival, development, and reproduction. This mainly occurs through water, and these ingredients can find their way into bodies of water a couple of ways.
First, harmful sunscreen ingredients can be directly put into bodies of water. Essentially, this happens when you apply sunscreen or other cosmetics that have these ingredients and then go into water. Like, you put on sunscreen and then swim in the ocean. A shocking 25% of applied sunscreen is deposited into water this way.
Second, these ingredients can make their way into bodies of water indirectly too. This happens when you do things like shower, go to the bathroom, and wash your clothes. It allows sunscreen residue to end up in wastewater or sewage systems. Pollutants aren’t efficiently removed in wastewater treatment plants so residual UV filters are transferred to marine ecosystems and even to tap water.
What specific ingredients are to blame?
The most notable culprits harming ecosystems are oxybenzone, octocrylene, and nanoparticle titanium and zinc oxides. These ingredients harm a whole suite of organisms: from algae and coral to marine mammals and turtles. In general, these ingredients impede development, harm reproduction, cause stress, and influence the food intake of many organisms.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate are commonly found in many personal care products but are known to cause hormonal disruptions in both humans and wildlife, coral bleaching, and are considered allergenic. Furthermore, studies have shown that oxybenzone and octinoxate can impact the endocrine systems of humans and other organisms. These ingredients can also result in hormonal disruptions, organ toxicity, a reduction in egg production, and embryo deformities in fish. Oxybenzone and octinoxate have been banned in places like Hawaii and Aruba because of their documented damaging effects on marine ecosystems.
Even physical sunscreens impact marine ecosystems. Nanoparticle titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are known to harm corals by causing bleaching and tissue necrosis. These ingredients can also affect things like food intake and cause oxidative stress to fish, mollusks, and echinoderms. Metal ions from the nanoparticles end up in digestive tracts via the consumption of seawater and are detrimental to respiratory and digestive systems but can also cause tumors.
What to reach for instead:
The best option is a non-nano mineral sunscreen. Meaning, a physical sunscreen that doesn’t used nanoparticle titanium or zinc oxide. If you hate the idea of mineral sunscreen, despite there being so many amazing ones on the market now, then reach for a chemical sunscreen that doesn’t have any benzophenones, octocrylene, or octinoxate. Always remember to wear sun-safe clothing and stay in shady areas as much as possible to limit damage from UV rays.
Stay sun-safe while being eco-safe!
Sunscreens need to be safe for people and the environment. Due to the detrimental effects of certain ingredients, it’s necessary to select eco-friendly UV filters when choosing sunscreen. By choosing better alternatives you can make sure you and our marine life stay happy and healthy!