Study: Some Sunscreens May Not Protect

TheBostonChannel.com
Published June 18, 2007

BOSTON -- A new study shows many sunscreens may not protect your skin, and some are even dangerous to your health. NewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that researchers inspecting nearly 800 different brands of sunscreens found that barely one-quarter of them offered adequate sun protection. According to the Environmental Working Group, more than half of the products they looked at broke down after minutes in the sun, according to a Boston Herald report. Some products contained questionable substances, such as oxybenzone, which mimics the hormone estrogen which doctors have linked to cancer. Only 13 percent were found to block UVB rays and not UVA rays. The study only gave three of the top 10 selling brands good ratings and all were for babies. They included the Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30/Baby, California Baby Water-Resistant Hypo-Allergenic Sunscreen SPF 30-plus and Aveeno Baby Sunblock Lotion Continuous Protection SPF 55. Of the others, 37 products received "avoid" ratings and 620 others received "caution" ratings. Researchers did not test the sunscreens in a lab but checked ingredients against other safety and effectiveness studies. An industry representative disputed the findings, saying it was a disservice to consumers to draw conclusions without performing laboratory tests.