Report Raises Questions About The Effects Of Sunscreen On Marine Life 0 The National Academy of Sciences says more research is needed — even as Hawaii moves to tighten its sunscreen laws.
Longstanding assumptions have held that sunscreen is vital to protect people from the sun’s dangerous rays, but it can be bad for the environment when it washes into the ocean.
The National Academy of Sciences says it’s not that simple.
A report released Tuesday said there’s a lack of conclusive data about whether the chemicals in sunscreen are harming marine life. It also cautioned that the environmental concerns as well as the cost and lack of cosmetic appeal of mineral-based sunscreens may have a negative impact on public health by discouraging their use.
“The existing bans on certain UV filters may be considered precautionary in principle, in that they protect the environment against a potential threat now, rather than wait for more data,” according to an overview of the report. “This approach has raised questions, though, about the potential human health implications resulting from reduced availability of some widely used UV filter ingredients.”
