From a legislative point of view, sunscreen isn’t simply sunscreen. Aside from potential carcinogenic ingredients and faulty SPF testing outcomes, formulations containing the chemical filter oxybenzone have been banned in Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, Key West, Aruba, Bonaire, and Palau.

At last count, according to a study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, the ingredient was found in over 3,500 formulations, resulting in 6,000-14,000 tons of sunscreen in coral reefs per annum. In its 2021 Guide to Sunscreens, the EWG states oxybenzone is found in 40% of non-mineral sunscreen formulations, a 20% decrease from 2019. The mineral sunscreen category (determined less hazardous on reefs) is predicted to have a 5% CAGR between now and 2030, with a global worth of $1.8 billion.

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By CARLA SEIPP – JULY 24, 2022