This summer millions of people will head out to the beach and, with safety on their minds, cover themselves in sunscreen or sunblock to protect against harmful UV rays.  However, little do most people know, the very products they are using to protect themselves from the sun could hold hidden dangers.

only 39 of 500 sunscreens examined were recommended. 

There are 17 primary active ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that make up the majority of UV-protection creams sold in the United States.  Two of these ingredients are minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  The other ingredients are chemicals such as octinoxate, oxybenzone, and octisalate, although the chemicals are often referred to by different names.

Each of these two classes of ingredients have their own health concerns associated with them.  The largest concerns about the mineral ingredients are focused on the new, nano-formulations of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Studies have shown that these tiny particles, around 1 billionth of a meter in diameter, are better for blocking UV rays and have been shown in studies not to penetrate healthy skin.  Skeptics however argue that there has simply not been enough research to discover the effects of nanoparticulate use on the human body.  Some chemical ingredients, on the other hand, can penetrate the skin and may act as endocrine disrupters, affecting hormones and reproductive functions.

There is also increasing fear concerning the effects of these chemical ingredients when they enter the water environment.  Sunscreen and sunblock are often introduced directly into rivers, lakes and streams when the people using the product decide to take a swim.  The accumulation of UV filters in water bodies worries some biologists because the accumulation of these chemicals within fish could adversely affect their health.

Researchers from the University of Riverside tested the effects of on UV filtering chemical, oxybenzone on a pair of fish species, finding it could impair reproductive abilities, but only at very high doses.

In the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 fourth annual Sunscreen Guide, only 39 of 500 sunscreens examined were recommended. 

Keeping potentially harmful chemicals out of our water initially is simpler and less expensive than having to remove those chemicals later.  Healthy people and healthy water go hand-in-hand when we make good decisions about personal care product use.

By Commissioner Frank Avila
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago