1. Sunlight includes “ultraviolet light” known as “UV”, which is a human carcinogen and can cause sunburn inflammation erythema, tanning, and local or systemic suppression of the immune system.
2. Many chemicals found in sunscreens are readily absorbed by the body. Many different byproducts are created when sunscreen chemicals are broken down by sunlight and the many associated and complex chemical reactions which result may be potentially hazardous.
3. Many sunscreens include chemical which have not been fully tested for safety including:
Padimate O,
Cinoxate,
Dioxybenzone,
Oxybenzone,
Homosalate,
Methyl anthranilate,
Octyl salicylate,
Trolamine salicylate.
4. Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid is genotoxic in bacteria. (damages the genetic structure of the bacteria which is not a good thing!)
5. Octocrylene increases reactive oxygen species on the skin associated with skin aging and other potential health risks.
6. Other sunscreen ingredients do protect against skin tumours in mice including:
p-Aminobenzoic acid,
Octyl methoxycinnamate,
Sulisobenzone,
Avobenzone,
Ecamsule,
but human health effects including the effects of breakdown products are not fully understood.
7. Other untested ingredients approved for use as sunscreens in Europe and other countries include:
4-Methylbenzylidene camphor,
Tinosorb M,
Tinosorb S,
Neo Heliopan AP,
Mexoryl XL,
Uvinul T 150,
Uvinul A Plus,
Uvasorb HEB,
Parsol SLX,
Isopentenyl-4-methoxycinnamate.
In addition,these chemicals need yet more chemicals to keep them stable in the bottle until you use them!
BEWARE: You will even find many of these in “kids” sunscreens!!!
8. Many “waterproof” sunscreens do not readily dissolve in water but they do dissolve in the natural oils and fats of the body! Many of them are readily absorbed by the human body and can be found in significant levels the urine of people tested who wore them, even days or weeks after exposure.
9. Adverse health effects may be associated with some synthetic compounds in sunscreens. In 2007 two studies by the CDC highlighted concerns about the sunscreen chemicals oxybenzone (benzophenone-3). The first detected the chemicals in greater than 95% of 2000 Americans tested, and the second found that mothers with high levels of oxybenzone in their bodies were more likely to give birth to underweight baby girls.
10. Titanium dioxide occurs in nature as the well-known white powder used in everything from sunscreen creams s to paint. Titanium dioxide pigment acts as a UV absorber, efficiently transforming destructive UV light energy into heat. It can potentially be hazardous if it is inhaled as a fine powder, but it has been ingested in food and medicines for many years with no reported concerns. Extensive studies by the World Health Organization and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that ingestion of titanium dioxide at varying diet percentages and over long periods of time did not cause absorption of this mineral by rats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and human males and was not detected in the blood, liver, kidney or urine and no adverse effects were noted. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2002) allows for its ingestion, external application including the eye area, and considers it a safe substance for public health.
11. Zinc oxide is a common chemical compound is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in acids and alkalis. Zinc oxide in a mixture with about 0.5% iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) is called calamine and is used in calamine lotion, which has been used safely for many years. Zinc oxide is added to many breakfast cereals, as a source of zinc; a necessary nutrient. As a food additive, Zinc oxide is on FDA’s Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance. Zinc oxide pigment acts as a UV absorber, efficiently transforming destructive UV light energy into heat.
12. I personally prefer to limit my exposure and those of my family and friends to the sun while still enjoying swimming and outdoor sports. We sit in the shade on the beach, and we apply a sunscreen which is a simple preparation based on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. You can choose a sun screen made of either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both, rather than take the risk of exposing yourself and your children to a chemical soup know as “sunscreen”???
Wayne Conrad
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