Five Surprising Facts Sifting Through the Shadows of Sunscreen Sustainability and Safety

The sunscreen we apply daily is loaded with ingredients that promise to safeguard us from harmful UV rays. However, when we take a swim or shower, these substances are washed off into our water bodies. It turns out that many ubiquitous sunscreen ingredients are responsible for substantial marine life damage. The chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, found in many mainstream sunscreens, pose major risks to coral reefs. Researchers have found these toxins to induce coral bleaching, stunt growth, and even fatally wound baby coral. As we rub on our sunscreen, we rarely associate it with vast underwater ecosystems' demise - a sobering effect of a product made to shield us.

Hidden Hazards of SPF Chemicals

The safety profile of sunscreens isn't only under scrutiny for their environmental impact. Certain SPF chemicals may pose risk to human health as well. According to a FDA study, several common sunscreen ingredients, including avobenzone, oxybenzone, ecamsule, and octocrylene, were found in participants' blood after just a single day of use, exceeding the FDA's threshold level for requiring further safety evaluation. This screening zeros in on potential endocrine disruption, the potential to interfere with our hormones, among other health issues.