Cancer-Causing Sunscreens

Reported July 2010

WASHINGTON, DC. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Do you know what's in your sunscreen? According to one research group, not knowing your suncreen may mean you and your family are not as protected as you think. Listen up before you lather up about what should and shouldn't be on your sunscreen label.

It may be sunny and warm outside, but the fun is happening inside at the Hardtke house. Dan Hardtke is fighting melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer.

"I had a mole right in front of my ear,” Hardtke told Ivanhoe.

Doctors removed his ear to prevent the spread.

"I have had four relapses,” Hardtke explained. “ It doesn't bode well, but it hasn't spread, so I'm still in the game."

You may think lathering on sunscreen will keep you safe, but do you know what chemicals are in your sunscreen? Researchers with the environmental working group, or EWG, studied over 2,000 types of sunscreens and found some may be better than others when it comes to protecting us.

"You want to look out for sunscreens with oxybenzone," Jane Houlihan, an Environmental Engineer with the Environmental Working Group in Washington, DC, said.

While the health risks of oxybenzone aren't clear and long-term studies still need to be done, some research shows oxybenzones’ affect is more than skin deep.

"So the concern is this is a chemical that definitely absorbs into the body,” Houlihan explained.

Instead, the EWG recommends using suncreens with zinc and titanium, which provides better protection from the sun's damaging UVA rays. Another concern is sunscreens you spray on.

"When you spray a sunscreen, you're very likely inhaling particles that may or may not be safe,” Houlihan said.

To reduce you risk, experts say hold your breath while spraying it on. But the most important tip is to always use sunscreen and reapply often.

Dan is fighting hard to beat his disease. His three girls aren't giving him any other choice.

"I just don't think this is the end for me,” Hardtke said.

Sunscreen researchers also say don't be fooled by a seal of approval from the Skin Cancer Foundation. According to the EWG, the organization lends its seal to any products with an SPF over 15, and companies that make a $10,000 donation.

This report has been produced thanks to a generous grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Leann Brown
Press secretary
Environmental Working Group
(202) 667-6982

Do you know what should and should not be on your sunscreen label? Listen up before you lather up!

The United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil every day. That's 2.5 gallons of oil per person per day. But what is the impact of all of that oil on all of us?

The average home spends about $1,900 a year on energy costs, but you can reduce your summertime energy bill with one simple fix.

Studies show for every one person injured in a household fire, two firefighters go home hurt as well. Now engineers are using a new toy to keep crews safer when tackling towering flames.

One study found 50 percent of college students drink three or more energy drink-and-alcohol cocktails in a night. Some researchers say it can secretly turn into a dangerous mixture.

You add it to popcorn, fries, veggies and just about every breakfast, lunch and dinner you eat. But did you know just one teaspoon of salt has 2,400 milligrams of sodium? With so much attention focused on lowering sodium intake, food scientists are creating a healthier replacement for salt.

You've heard it as lactose intolerance, but did you know milk allergy is the most common food allergy in the U.S., affecting six million infants and children? Now, there's a new way to treat dairy allergies.

A University of Utah professor and his students are convinced their invention will steady the hands of surgeons, artists, and people with conditions like cerebral palsy.

For more than one million blind people in the U.S., a school project could make their lives a whole lot easier. It's one of those, "Wow. Why didn't I think of that?" ideas.

Millions of Americans have high blood pressure, but many don't know they have it. Find out why letting your blood pressure go unchecked could put you at risk for some very serious problems.

The more than 10 million people with jaw alignment problems are reminded of their pain with every bite. For serious cases, surgery is the best option, but it's a tricky procedure. Now surgeons are improving accuracy and putting patients at ease by doing the surgery in a virtual world.

Music: we hear it on the radio. We play it on our iPods. We dance to it. Why do we love music so much? As one philosophy professor is showing, it could be because it's within us all. He's proving music is more than skin-deep.