Sunscreen on your body harms aquatic life

Washington, Aug. 19: Applying sunscreen on your body may be good for your skin, but not so much for the fish, a new study has revealed.

Scientists have found that sunscreen from the body of bathers releases significant quantities of polluting titanium dioxide ( TiO2) into the sea, which has the potential to harm marine life.

TiO2 is one of the main ingredients of sunscreen and acts as a protective agent against harmful UV rays. Most major regulatory bodies consider it safe for human use at the concentrations used in sunscreens, however, concentrated TiO2 or longterm exposure could be toxic to a variety of fish and other aquatic organisms.

In many sunscreens, TiO2 is present as tiny nanoparticles, which are coated with protective chemicals. Because the particle size is so small, nano- titanium dioxide does not reflect visible light but does absorb UV light, enabling a transparent barrier that protects the skin from the sun's harmful rays.

The researchers have found that in water, the nanoparticles tend to lose their protective coating under the influence of UV light or seawater composition, which exposes the more toxic TiO2 to the aquatic environment.

They measured TiO2 concentrations in 3 beaches near Marseille in France, and surveyed bathers about how much sunscreen they used. The team found daily concentrations of 15 to 45 μg/ L of TiO2, which corresponds to several kgs of nanoparticles per summer season.