http://www.care2.com/greenliving/schooled-in-sunscreen.html
Schooled in Sunscreen
Pity the poor fishes. There they are, just swimming around in the ocean minding their own business—all the while, humans are swimming around above them pointing and ogling them like they were paying for a show. It’s funny though, they don’t seem to mind. They don’t swim away from us and they don’t seem to be bothered by humans (how would we know if they were?) so I figure no harm, no foul. Right? Not so fast.
I love swimming in the ocean and I love snorkeling, but last week in Kauai I got to thinking about the pretty fish and how they felt about me and everyone else invading their turf. Turns out there is something to be concerned about: Sunscreen.
Obviously, sunscreen is a must. Especially for someone as fair as I am. But the schools of tropical fish I love so much could be in some serious trouble if swimmers don’t start thinking about what they are putting on their skin before getting into the water.
You see, there are several common ingredients in sunscreen that threaten the coral fish need to live, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
And since swimmers leave 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen in the world’s oceans every year, threatening the approximately 10 percent of the world’s coral that humans–and therefore sunscreen–come into contact with, we’ve got a problem.
So what are these problem ingredients? Paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone and a camphor derivative, according to this study.
I was extra careful to bring a paraben-free sunscreen after a recent bathroom cabinet makeover, so I chose this Aveeno Sunblock Spray. But what about that other stuff? Let’s see. Cinnamate? None. Benzophenone? Zip. Camphor derivative? Not that I can tell.
So yay! I got lucky on that one, and more importantly so did the fish! Especially considering that I went swimming three or four times every day I was there
Saving the Earth, one dip in the ocean at a time.
Please sign Care2’s petition to Protect Ocean Life During International Year of the Reef.
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add your comment »I HAVE SENT A COMMENT REGARDING THIS "SCHOOLED IN SUNSCREEN" ARTICLE BEFORE. IT IS THE ONE DIRECTLY PRECEEDING THIS ONE OR #49 IN THE LIST."THERE ARE WAYS
TO GO TO THE BEACH AND ENJOY WITHOUT USING
HARMFUL LOTIONS",ETC,ETC. VIOLET Y.
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THERE ARE WAYS TO GO TO THE BEACH WITHOUT
DESTROYING THE NATURAL WAY OF THINGS AND INTERFERE WITH NATURE. BEWARE OF THE SUN,
KEEP YOUR TRASH WITH YOU AND LEAVE AS IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN THERE. IT WILL LAST LONGER
AND SO WILL YOU. VIOLET Y.
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Oxybenzone, according to wikipedia is a derivative of benzophenone. It penetrates the skin where it acts as a photosensitizer when illuminated by sunlight. It releases free radicals, therefore is a photocarcinogin.
1. ^ Hanson Kerry M.; Gratton Enrico; Bardeen Christopher J. (2006). "Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin". Free Radical Biology and Medicine 41 (8): 1205–1212. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2006.06.011.
2. ^ Simon Pitman. "EWG campaign highlights study on sunscreen ingredient".
3. ^ a b Knowland, John; McKenzie, Edward A.; McHugh, Peter J.; Cridland, Nigel A. (1993). "Sunlight-induced mutagenicity of a common sunscreen ingredient". FEBS Letters 324(3): 309–313. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(93)80141-G.
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What about Oxybenzone?
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I don't like the sand
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Excellent information! I had no idea, though honestly I should have. Its good to know Aveeno is easy to find and doesn't cost you a beach trip. Thanks for the tip!
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Benzophenone, an ingredient used as a sunscreen is also widely used in the fragrance industry. Some studies indicate that it is an estrogen disruptor. I know of people who have worked with fragrance for some period of time and have had reproductive problems. This of course is anectdotal, but there is too much of a co-incidence. I don't know why it is used in fragrance. Perhaps it is to pull the fragrance into the skin so that it is longer wearing. Even a respected name in terms of "organic" products-Stella McCartney-has benzophenone in her Stella fragrance. Again, do your own research. Ultimately your health is in your hands.
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In response to the entry about product at Sephora, I work at one of the Sephora stores. I do a lot independent research about product ingredients. Unfortunately I cannot remember all the sites to which I have gone. Ewg.org is a great place to start. I have also found information through the green guide to go. Zinc oxide is the safest ingredient, followed by titanium dioxide. But if the TiO2 particles are smaller than 7 nanometers, they can pose a health problem. These two ingredients are physical sunscreens-they sit on top of your skin blocking the sun's rays . In terms of marketing, labeling, these minerals are also referred to as organic sunscreens. The rest of the sunscreen active ingredients are considered chemical. They are absorbed into the skin to some degree or another. They work by undergoing a chemical reaction when in contact with the energy from the sun’s rays. Free radicals can be the product from the reaction. The irony of some sunscreens is that they are DNA disrupters-meaning they can change or mutate the cell’s DNA, some are Estrogen disruptors,some make the skin more photoreactive. Do your research and find the products that work for you. Some products I can genuinely suggest as safe include the Juice Beauty products. They have both face moisturizers and a body lotion with safe sunscreen and other safe ingredients. Another sunscreen I suggest is the Mineral Sunscreen from Peter Thomas Roth. None of the products I have mentioned have paraben
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I say if God wanted us to swim with the fish he would of given of GILLS. Let's keep the plant and all it creatures in a save and healthy ocean.
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Good adivce, but next time please put in a link to the study in case people want to read it themselves!
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