What are the environmental impacts of the chemical oxybenzone?
Oxybenzone is used as an ingredient in sunscreen and other cosmetics because it absorbs UV-A ultraviolet rays. Unfortunately oxybenzone penetrates into the skin where it is thought to act as a photosensitizer by creating free radicals when exposed to sunlight. These free radicals might react with the bodies substances causing carcinogenic effects. This has been studied more in benzophenones, not oxybenzones, but the molecules appear similar. This may explain why some studies have found the incidence of melanoma to be greater in sunscreen users than nonusers. If true, this is a frustrating result because sunscreen users probably have skin cancer prevention high on their list of reasons for using these products. Probably the best advice is to limit sunlight exposures through clothing, seeking shade, and other means as much as possible, and then avoiding oxybenzone (and benzophenones) in sunscreens that are used. And stay tuned to the research. Use of sunscreen on mice has not shown these
