Evaluation of “reef safe” sunscreens: Labeling and cost implications for consumers

Sunscreens and Photoaging: A Review of Current Literature

“…Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified ten sunscreen ingredients as being toxic to coral and marine life: oxybenzone, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-8, PABA, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-benzylidene camphor, nano-titanium dioxide, nano-zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octocrylene [58]. Studies that demonstrated marine toxicity were performed in vitro with high concentrations of sunscreen ingredients [44,55,59]. In a review looking at all 32 published studies until June 2020, 14 different organic UV filters in seawater near coral reefs were detected in the nanograms per liter range, in contrast to toxic levels in the micrograms per liter to milligrams per liter range reported in nine papers [60].…”

“…To address this issue, on 9 February 2021, the National Academies formed a committee sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency to study the environmental and health impacts of sunscreens. Although data supporting that the coral reefs are adversely impacted by environmental exposure to UV filters are limited, the state of Hawaii banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in 2018, and Key West, Florida, USA, did the same in 2019 [59].…”

Reducing the prevalence of chemical UV filters from sunscreen in aquatic environments: Regulatory, public awareness, and other considerations

“…For example, Tsatalis et al. (2020) found that, of the most popular sunscreens featuring a “reef safe” label sold by the online retailer Amazon, 4% contained oxybenzone or octinoxate, and 44% contained other ingredients of potential concern to coral reef health.…”

“…Many sunscreens now market themselves as "reef safe" to concerned consumers, but there are no national or international requirements or certification processes to define what "reef safe" actually means, and some sunscreens carrying this label still contain chemicals subject to local ingredient bans. For example, Tsatalis et al (2020) found that, of the most popular sunscreens featuring a "reef safe" label sold by the online retailer Amazon, 4% contained oxybenzone or octinoxate, and 44% contained other ingredients of potential concern to coral reef health.…”

“…With the exception of Palau, local ingredient bans only cover a few chemicals of concern. Oxybenzone and octinoxate have received the most attention to date, and many sunscreen manufacturers have already developed alternative products that do not contain these two ingredients to market to consumers concerned about their sunscreen's environmental impact, often using a label stating that the sunscreen is “reef safe.” But in addition to oxybenzone and octinoxate, there are a number of other chemical ingredients common in sunscreens that are considered potentially harmful to aquatic ecosystems, and which remain prevalent in most sunscreens, including many sunscreens that are labeled as “reef safe” (Tsatalis et al, 2020). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has developed a list of chemical ingredients that have been found to be harmful to aquatic life (NOAA, 2021), but there is currently no consistent regulatory guidance relating to the environmental impacts of sunscreens at the federal level in the United States (although the US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] has recently commissioned a review of the impacts of sunscreens from the National Academy of Sciences [NAS] [NAS, 2021]).…”