Comments

• Syl Member

  May 11

  There are complementary sunscreen ingredients like Meroxyl.
  https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/cancer-controversial-science-cosmetics-environment-health-news/safe-sunscreens-no-safe-tans#:~:text=Mexoryl%20isn't%20absorbed%20through,a%20tell%2Dtale%20white%20residue.
  
• Perry Administrator, Professional Chemist

  May 11

  @Syl - I haven't seen any research to demonstrate that Meroxyl doesn't have the same problems as other sunscreen actives. Lack of data is not a point in favor of any ingredient.

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• grapefruit22 Member

  May 11

  I looked through SDS of different sunscreen ingredients - chemical, zinc oxide (nano, non-nano), and in all SDS I checked, I found information: very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Isn't that a problem for most (if not all) ingredients of this type? 
  So far, I think non-nano coated zinc oxide is the best choice given the gaps in the data on chemical sunscreen actives.
• PhilGeis Member, Professional formulator

  May 11

  SDS refers risk associated with the raw material.  to address risk in product application, one would need to consider dose - as Perry noted in the initial post..
• Perry Administrator, Professional Chemist

  May 11

  @grapefruit22 - wouldn't exposure of aquatic life to 100% non-nano, coated zinc oxide result in the death of said aquatic life?
  
  

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• grapefruit22 Member

  May 11

  @PhilGeis ;
  Sure, my point is that if oxybenzone is risky only as a raw material, and other raw sunscreen ingredients could also be risky, why is only Oxybenzone mentioned as a problem for reef, and other sunscreen ingredients are "reef-safe"?
  
  @Perry
  All SPF ingredients I found had warning "Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects"
  For me, a non-nano zinc oxide is better, because at least it's not absorbed through the skin.