This summer, millions of people up and down the country have been digging out the sunscreen to protect themselves from a record-breaking series of heatwaves.
However, new research has revealed a striking gap in awareness about the environmental impacts of sunscreen, with more than half of people never having considered that the products they use to protect their skin from the sun’s rays could be harmful once they enter the ocean.
That is despite extensive scientific evidence showing that sunscreen ingredients – particularly the ultraviolet (UV) filters – can pose a number of risks to marine organisms including fish, algae and coral reefs.
The research also showed that more than eight out of ten people were unaware of the existence of reef-safe sunscreen, an unregulated marketing term often used by brands to imply reduced harm to marine life, despite this not always being the case. This inconsistency is another issue explored within the study.
Published in Marine Policy, the study was led by researchers at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and is the first in the UK to directly investigate public perceptions of sunscreen pollution.
Its authors say their findings highlight a clear gap between scientific evidence and public awareness, and have direct implications for future marine policy and regulation, product labelling and consumer guidance.
That, they add, is because public opinions are essential in encouraging manufacturers to develop choices that balance both human and environmental safety.
