Chlorinated Pools can Turn Chemical Sunscreens into Toxins

Scientific studies are shedding light on the risks of petrochemical sunscreens when exposed to chlorine, a common disinfectant found in swimming pools and even in drinking water. These sunscreens, containing ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone, are widely used for UV protection, but they undergo harmful chemical reactions in chlorinated environments.

But there is good news: Stream2Sea’s mineral sunscreens are made with coated non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide NOT petrochemicals, and haven’t been shown to react with other substances in swimming pools.

Key Findings
According to a recent report published in Chemosphere, when avobenzone is exposed to chlorine, it breaks down into a combination of highly toxic byproducts, including aromatic acids, aldehydes, phenols, and acetyl benzenes. Albert Lebedev, the study’s author, emphasized that “a generally safe compound transforms in the water and forms more dangerous products.”

Similarly, research published in Environmental International identified over 60 byproducts created by the breakdown of avobenzone in chlorinated water. Among these, chlorinated phenols and acetophenones are noted for their toxicity.

Health Risks
Craig Downs, who led the landmark 2015 study on oxybenzone’s role in coral reef destruction, stated, “The toxicity and pollution in swimming pools are much, much worse than what we see on coral reefs.” The disinfectants used in pools, he explained, increase the toxicity of these compounds by up to 600%, making them significantly more dangerous than the original ingredients.

With mounting scientific evidence on the dangers of petrochemical sunscreens, it’s time to consider safer alternatives. Stream2Sea offers non-nano mineral sunscreens made from naturally occurring ingredients that do not break down into harmful substances when exposed to chlorine.

Learn more by visiting the links below:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.12449, Dermatological and environmental toxicological impact of the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone/benzophenone-3

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/15569527.2011.647181, Altered UV absorbance and cytotoxicity of chlorinated sunscreen agents

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160412014003456, Chemical contaminants in swimming pools: Occurrence, implications, and control

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S100107421730308X, Occurrence, and formation of disinfection by-products in the swimming pool environment: A critical review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9324767/, Environmental Fate of Organic Sunscreens during Water Disinfection Processes: The Formation of Degradation By-Products and Their Toxicological Profiles

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135416303931, Transformation of avobenzone in conditions of aquatic chlorination and UV-irradiation

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019325656, Identification of avobenzone by-products formed by various disinfectants in different types of swimming pool waters