Nearly 80% of sunscreens marketed in the US fail basic safety and effectiveness tests, potentially exposing millions of Americans to harmful chemicals like benzene and oxybenzone, according to a shocking new report from the Environmental Working Group.
Key Takeaways
- The Environmental Working Group found that approximately 80% of over 2,000 tested sunscreen products failed to meet safety and effectiveness standards.
- Spray sunscreens (26% of the market) pose significant risks due to inhalation of particles and potential benzene contamination.
- Chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and butyloctyl salicylate raise serious health concerns, though oxybenzone use is declining to just 9% of products.
- Many products contain undisclosed fragrance blends that may include allergens, hormone disruptors, or carcinogens.
- Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are recommended as safer alternatives.
Widespread Safety Issues in Common Sunscreen Products
The Environmental Working Group’s comprehensive analysis of over 2,000 sunscreen products has revealed disturbing findings for American consumers. Their report, released just before Memorial Day, indicates that nearly 80% of all tested products fail to meet basic safety, health, and effectiveness criteria. This alarming statistic raises serious questions about the products many families rely on for protection during outdoor activities. Most sunscreens were found ineffective due to either insufficient sun protection or the presence of harmful chemical ingredients that may pose greater risks than the sun damage they aim to prevent.
Of particular concern are spray sunscreens, which constitute 26% of the U.S. market. These products present unique risks due to the potential inhalation of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide particles. Additionally, benzene contamination has been identified in numerous aerosol sunscreens. This carcinogenic chemical can cause serious health issues, including cancer and immune system damage, leading to multiple product recalls. The prevalence of these issues suggests systemic problems within the sunscreen industry that regulators have failed to address adequately.
Chemical Ingredients and Hidden Dangers
The EWG report highlights several specific ingredients of concern. Butyloctyl salicylate (BOS), commonly used to boost SPF numbers, may be linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity. Meanwhile, the chemical filter oxybenzone, once ubiquitous in sunscreens, has fallen out of favor due to its high absorption rate through the skin and potential health impacts. According to the report, only 9% of products are expected to contain this ingredient by 2025, down from much higher levels in previous years.
“Wearing any sunscreen is much more important and offers better sun protection for your skin than not applying anything. But not all sunscreens are created equal,” Said Dr. David Andrews from the Environmental Working Group.
Another troubling finding concerns the lack of transparency regarding fragrance ingredients. Many sunscreens contain undisclosed fragrance blends that may include allergens, hormone disruptors, or carcinogens. This practice of hiding potentially harmful ingredients behind the generic term “fragrance” prevents consumers from making fully informed choices. Similarly, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) usage in sunscreens has decreased significantly due to research suggesting it may actually accelerate skin damage when applied before sun exposure.
Finding Safer Alternatives
In response to these widespread issues, the EWG Verified Program has been established to identify sunscreens that meet stricter safety and effectiveness standards. Products earning this designation must provide full ingredient transparency and offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays. The program represents a significant step toward empowering consumers to make healthier choices in a market flooded with questionable products. Only about 25% of the tested sunscreens (roughly 500 out of 2,000) made the EWG’s effective list.
“The shift reflects growing awareness of oxybenzone’s high absorption through the skin and other potential health harms,” Stated Mckenzie Beard
The EWG specifically recommends using mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide rather than chemical filters, which present greater health and environmental risks. These mineral-based products create a physical barrier on the skin rather than being absorbed into the body. Additionally, the report cautions against products with extraordinarily high SPF claims, noting that sunscreens with SPF 50 or higher may not offer significantly better protection than those with more moderate ratings. Instead, the most effective sunscreen strategy involves frequent and consistent application of safer products.
Conservative Response to Regulatory Failures
This report represents yet another example of government regulatory agencies failing to protect American consumers despite having the authority to do so. The FDA has known about these issues for years but has taken minimal action to regulate the sunscreen industry effectively. While the free market has responded somewhat with manufacturers voluntarily phasing out harmful ingredients like oxybenzone, the continued prevalence of unsafe products suggests that more rigorous oversight is needed to protect public health. Conservative solutions would emphasize transparency in labeling and ingredients, allowing consumers to make informed choices rather than imposing blanket bans.
For consumers concerned about sunscreen safety, the EWG’s findings serve as a wake-up call to research products more carefully and potentially pay more attention to mineral-based alternatives. While the government continues to drag its feet on meaningful regulation, American families must take personal responsibility for investigating the products they use. The best approach combines sensible sun protection practices with informed consumer choices, rather than blind trust in manufacturers’ marketing claims or inadequate regulatory standards.
