A review of the effects of UV filters on the environment and human health

Aug 9, 2022

The National Academies presented a public release webinar of a new report on Tuesday, August 9 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm EDT. The report, Review of Fate, Exposure, and Effects of Sunscreens in Aquatic Environments and Implications for Sunscreen Usage and Human Health, calls on the U.S. EPA to conduct an ecological risk assessment of UV filters to characterize possible risks to aquatic ecosystems and the species that live in them. The report contains information useful for such an assessment. It also describes the role of sunscreens in preventing skin cancer and what is known about how human health could be affected by potential changes in usage. The committee chairs shared key takeaways and responded to questions during the webinar.

For further details about the study, visit the project webpage.

UPennPRC and CHBR director and UPenn DBEI faculty, Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, is on the committee. Dr. Glanz addressed the impact of UV filters on human health and stated the many factors involved, including correct application of sunscreen and the use of other barriers such as rash guards. Read the article on the report that she co-authored for The Conversation, here.

Download the report

View webinar slides

Watch the webinar

Dr. Glanz named to new NAS committee

Feb 16, 2021

National collaboration on sunscreen science

Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, a George A. Weiss University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named to a new National Academy of Sciences committee: Committee on Environmental Impact of Currently Marketed Sunscreens and Potential Human Impacts of Changes in Sunscreen Usage. The study is sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and managed by the Ocean Studies Board and the National Academy of Medicine’s Health and Medicine Division.

This study will review the state of science on the use of currently marketed sunscreen ingredients, their fate and effects in aquatic environments, and the potential public health implications associated with changes in sunscreen usage.

 

Why is the study being done? 

Concerns have been raised about the potential toxicity of sunscreens to a variety of marine and freshwater aquatic organisms, particularly corals. At the same time, there are concerns that people will use less sunscreen rather than substituting sunscreens with UV filters that are considered environmentally safe.

Karen Glanz has been conducting research in skin cancer prevention for more than 25 years.  She is internationally recognized as a leader in the study of human behavior related to sun protection, and commercial aspects of sunscreen sales and purchases.

Coverage of Hawaii’s ban on certain sunscreens and the risks involved

Apr 2, 2018

Preserve Marine Ecosystems

Hawaii proposed and then passed a bill banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in order to “preserve marine ecosystems.” PRC director and Penn professor, Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, co-authored an op-ed for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser titled, “Suncreens save lives, have limited impact on coral reefs.” Dr. Glanz was on a sabbatical for the first part of 2018, and served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Together with Kevin Cassel, president of the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition, the piece was published, March 29, 2018.

Acknowledging health factors and disparities

Glanz and Cassel start by acknowledging that sunscreen is a key factor in preventing skin cancer. Furthermore, they call on legislators to fund more research on the ingredients in sunscreen and the effects they have on Hawaii’s natural resources.

Their article caught the attention of the local media and they called on Dr. Glanz to present her views on the impact this decision could have on those at risk for skin cancer. In addition, they bring light to the higher price for sunscreens that don’t contain those ingredients. This could prevent people from purchasing those products. “The cost of these so-called reef-friendly products for sunscreen ranges anywhere from two times to as much as six to eight times as much as what is on the shelves now.” She points out that it isn’t just beachgoers that are affected, there are a number of jobs in Hawaii requiring people to work outside and they could be the most at risk.

Resources

READ the article here.
WATCH Karen’s interview with Hawaii News Now ↓
LISTEN to her interview with SiriusXM, Knowledge@Wharton with Dan Loney on May 17, 2018. ↓

Mahealani Richardson of Hawaii News Now interviewed Karen Glanz and Kevin Cassel on this topic and the story aired April 4, 2018. After Hawaii passes the legislation, Ms. Richardson shares an update.

Click here to see the story on Hawaii News Now.

 

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

by Karen Glanz on Knowledge@Wharton

Listen to Karen’s interview with Dan Loney at SiriusXM Knowledge@Wharton, (Wharton Business Radio) on May 17, 2018 HERE.