What The SPF!

It is hot out there, real hot. With temperatures toping 90 yesterday it is hard not to think about the beach, vacation, and that ice cream truck that has been circling your block… Chances are, the last thing on your mind is chemical safety and the need for real government regulation of the cosmetic industry. Well, here is some food for thought – what about toxic chemicals in the sunscreen? That’s right, according to the newly issued, Environmental Working Group 2010 Sunscreen Guide, some of those icky toxic chemicals that we have been blogging about lately (you know the cancer -causing, hormone disrupting sort) are in sunscreen as well. Pardon my French, but What The SPF!

What could be in your bottle of sunscreen:

• Oxybenzone – a chemical found in 60% of sunscreens is related to potential allergic reactions and hormone disruption.
• Nanomaterials – which penetrate the skin and can impact your health or that of your future child…
• Free Radicals – ingredients that accelerate skin aging and can cause skin cancer!

The environmental working group only recommends 8 % of beach and sport sunscreens of the 500 that they tested! Of course, protection from the sun is also critical to safeguard against skin cancer, so here is our recipe for sun safety this summer:

• One part safe sun screen
• A heaping dose of long sleeves and sun hats
• Double up on your activism! Click here to ask your senators to support responsible chemical safety reform.
• Enjoy and share with friends – share this piece with those you love so they can keep safe this summer!