HELIOLITH

I’ve been using the Environmental Working Group’s new indispensible database that evaluated 785 name-brand sunscreen products that was made public in June 2007. [Press Release, Executive Summary, Best Products]

My family is spending a ton of time in the sun lately, and as a parent it’s an obvious duty to protect your kids from cancer, even if you’ve been burnt to a crisp a few bazillion times yourself. It is somewhat incredible how ineffective many of the sunscreens in the store are, as well as how many chemicals linked to sickness are found in these products. Here are a few excerpts from the main report’s findings:

• 83% of 785 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.
• Fully 12% of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and do not contain ingredients known to protect from UVA radiation, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation.
• In lieu of setting final standards, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises people to stay out of the sun from 10 am to 4 pm. FDA now stands in direct violation a Congressional mandate requiring the agency to finalize sunscreen safety standards by May 2006
• At least 50% of products on the market bear claims that are considered “unacceptable” or misleading under FDA’s draft sunscreen safety standards.

It’s no surprise that the number 2 product on the “Least Harmful/ Most Effective” List, Badger SPF 30 is actually sold out and the manufacturer is currently unable to meet demand for the product. A local health food store employee explained before I could offer my own same hypothesis - that the shortage was likely due to the EWG report. I was able to find the number one product though, UV Natural Sport SPF 30+, which is incidentally showing EWG’s endorsement on their homepage.. The worker also told me that they are moving to a smaller package size for a bigger price. Ouch. Next time I think I’ll go with Badger.

As you might conclude, the reason that EWG had to do this report in the first place was because an important government agency is not doing its job. Jasmin at the Worsted Witch points out that class-action lawsuits have begun already in California.

As a sidenote, wikipedia’s page on sunscreen didn’t have a link to the database, so I took the liberty of adding it. The article really needs to have some of the report findings incorporated to make it more up-to-date, if you’re a committed Wikipedian needing a project.