Oxybenzone is not only found in sunscreens; it can be an active ingredient in products such as “body fragrances, hair styling products, shampoos and conditioners, anti-aging creams, lip balms, mascaras, insect repellants, as well as dishwasher soaps, dish soaps, hand soaps, and bath oils/salts” ("Archives"). These products, while not always directly entering the ocean off of people, are introduced via wastewater and sewage systems that lead to the ocean. Therefore, all of these products have the potential to contaminate sea life and, more specifically, coral reefs. Oxybenzone is a photo-toxicant and a geno-toxicant, meaning that the light intensifies the negative impacts it has on marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the geno-toxicity of the chemical means that it has destructive effects on the DNA and RNA of oceanic plant life.
The CDC claims that, “The Food and Drug Administration has failed miserably in its duty to protect the public from toxic chemicals like oxybenzone in personal care products” (EWG). They also state, “97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage”, in case the environmental damage is not enough to invoke a change within their readers. Conclusively, oxybenzone is not healthy. Octinoxate on the other hand, is the other infamous, banned sunscreen ingredient. It is slightly less toxic but still a valid cause for concern. An organization focusing on the healthfulness surrounding cosmetics notes that, “Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function” (Safe Cosmetics). Both chemicals have proven research pinpointing them as the cause of damage to the Earth and to its human population.
Many people make the common mistake of falling into patterns of convenience. Their lives consist only of what is comfortable, familiar, or routine. Simply picking up your trusted brand of sunscreen from the drugstore before a pool or beach day is much easier than researching the most environmentally-friendly ingredients. However, this is one of many cases where convenience is far too low on the list of priorities.
Have you ever had a reaction to chemical SPFs? Have you heard about Oxybenzone's harmful effects before? For anyone who currently has sunscreen (or foundation if you wear makeup), check the ingredient list; I can almost assure you Oxybenzone or Octinoxate are likely the active ingredients. Personally, if you insist on sticking to chemical SPFs, I recommend active ingredients of Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as they're the less harmful chemicals.
Sources:
“Let the Sun Shine.” Devash, Meirav, Rodale's Organic Life, Jul/Aug2016, Vol. 2, Issue 4.
Loya, Yossi. “Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Incl. Option to Publish Open Access.” Evidence, Realism and Pluralism Hasok Chang Springer, Springer Netherlands, 1 Feb. 2016, www.springer.com/environment/environmentalchemistry/journal/244.
“CDC: Americans Carry Body Burden of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical.” EWG, CDC, 25 Mar. 2008, www.ewg.org/news/testimony-official-correspondence/cdc-americans-carry-body- burden-toxic-sunscreen-chemical.
“Octinoxate.” Safe Cosmetics, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, 2018, www.safecosmetics.org/ get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/octinoxate/.
19 comments:
This was really well written and, being that I’ve never heard of it before, very interesting. I had no idea that Hawaii had banned certain chemicals often found in sunscreen but based on the effects you listed that they may cause such as cell destruction, allergies, and hormone disruption in humans among non human related effects such as the destruction of coral reefs, which are already becoming a rarity in today’s world, it’s no wonder they were banned. I’ve never heard of Oxybenzone or its effects, and I will surely check later to see if my sunscreen has it in it, but overall I learned a lot from your post. Thank you for sharing.
I had actually heard of this because I purchased a sunscreen that was “Oxybenzone Free” and I wanted to know what on Earth that meant. That caused me to go through a spiral of research on the recent laws Hawaii made and the harm that can be done to ocean reefs from these harmful chemicals. I also have pretty sensitive skin so sunscreen that doesn’t include very harsh chemicals, or any product for that matter, is a must for me. Thank you for writing your blog on such an important issue!
This is very interesting! I had no idea that there were such harmful chemicals in our everyday products such as sunscreen and makeup. It is important to spread awareness in order educate people so that they can make informed decisions. It's good that states such as Hawaii are taking the steps to ensure that there is minimal environmental harm. It's up the public to push lawmakers to follow in the same path.
I can't believe there are so many harsh chemicals in products like sunscreen. It is so interesting to see how Hawaii tackled this issue and it's scary how dangerous it can be to not only humans but also animals. This was such an informative blog!
There are way too many bed chemicals in sunscreen! I had no idea there were that many, this is a very interesting. It is important to spread awareness of this because it is dangerous to animals and humans.
Just when I thought I knew about all the radiation from the Sun and the effects of ozone holes, you write this very informative article ! I had no idea that my attempted protection of my sensitive skin can actually be harmful ! I had no idea that the inclusion of Oxybenzone in sunscreen had so many harmful chemicals. I will be looking even closer at the ingredients of my sunscreen now, thank you for the very informative article !
It's funny how the thing that is supposed to protect has actually been hurting us. Oxybenzone in sunscreen is something that everyone needs to be educated about so that they can be aware of its harmful effect to humans and animals. This was such an informative blog!
This blog was written quite well but in actually confused the living heck out of me. So the thing that is supposed to be protecting us is actually bad for us? Like this is crazy stuff. This is an article that will actually affect my daily life because I will be looking for Oxybenzone on my sunscreen bottles to help protect myself just a little bit more.
Interesting article. I knew that their were some harmful chemicals in sunscreen but there is harmful chemicals it seems like in everything. As comments have previously stated, it is quite ironic how a thing that is suppose to protect us might actually be harming us more. I have personally never hear of Oxybenzone and have never had a reaction to such SPF. Nonetheless, i usually try to avoid conventional sunscreen because of such harmful chemicals I have heard about and usually opt for sunscreen with safer ingredients.
Sunscreen has been marketed so well that it protects us against the sun’s harmful rays, but in reality, they actually do harm to us as well. This blog highlights a few of those harmful effects and starts with a prime example of a state trying to make a difference. I have never heard of these chemicals in sunscreen, much like many people in the world that use it.
Sunscreen companies have done a great job of marketing to people that sunscreen is safe and cannot affect our skin, but the truth is that they are hiding the truth. I had no idea so many harmful chemicals are going unnoticed in sunscreen. I definitely need to make sure of the company and product I am using before I head outside in the blazing sun.
Overall, you did a really good job on informing us of all the dangers of chemical SPFs. I have previously heard about some of the harmful ingredients in chemical SPFs, but I wasn't completely informed on the issue.
I have never heard of oxybenzone before and this blog was was really informative. I never thought something as simple as sunscreen could do so much damage to not only the environment but also to us as well. I'm glad to see there is some action being done to help with this problem by banning it in hawaii but if it really is in all of these personal products, like makeup and haircare I feel like we still have a long way to go before we can get rid of this chemical.
I was informed about all of the dangerous chemicals in sunscreen when I went to Hawaii this past summer. The chemicals really damage marine life. It’s great to see Hawaii take charge and I believe other places will follow.
Wow, that was really fascinating! I didn’t know that our everyday products like sunscreen and cosmetics negatively affect both our health and animals’ health. It’s good that Hawaii is setting an example for the other states of the US. People need to be aware of the chemicals that are present in the products in order for them, as well as the environment to be safe.
Its scary how frequently our safety is laid on the line in the name of convenience. Companies who produce these products that knowingly damage human life as you have claimed, should be held accountable for their actions in degrading the quality of life for many thousands. Would we accept a food company that produced food that even sickened a few people? No. They would be held accountable, but for some reason we allow cosmetics companies to harm the public and the environment for no good reason. You wrote a very intriguing article, thank you.
Wow, this blog was very interesting! I never really knew about the dangers of chemicals in SPFs. I never really knew that chemicals such as Oxybenzone can harm the ocean. It is very promising that Hawaii took the initiative to ban the use of chemicals in sunscreen, so that we will not harm the environment. Other states should follow in their footsteps to ensure that harm is not done. It is up to us and our lawmakers to educate ourselves and to make rational decisions.
Great Blog! It’s funny to think that something that is meant to protect you has actually been doing the opposite. It is weird to think that small things that everyone uses like sunscreen could be causing our dreadful allergies, and I think that it is important for states and governments to push for the banning of products that cause harm to the environment and especially those that cause harm to our health. Maybe this will help put an illusory correlation in peoples mind that make them think if the environment is getting hurt the so are we. Although, for most instances this can be the case. If the ozone layer does in fact become depleted, there could be serious health effects.
This was a very informative article, as I was previously not even aware of the fact that popular sunscreen adds had such toxic chemicals engrained into their makeup. To think that something as normal as sunscreen could be causing sicknesses shows that some of these chemicals pose a threat to both our environment and our health.
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