The Emerald Coast is blessed to be an amazing tropical destination to which people flock with their families. But lurking unnoticed in this idyllic setting is a harmful environmental pollutant that needs to be addressed—sunscreen. When we generously apply traditional sunscreen lotions, oils, sprays and pumps, the chemical active ingredients, fragrances, synthetic preservatives and colors they contain may negatively affect our body and even disrupt the sensitive coastal environment in ways we don’t see.

The very active ingredients that protect skin from sunburn cause the development of free radicals that age skin by breaking down elastin and collagen. Additional chemical additives can potentially disrupt our thyroid, endocrine and hormone systems.

Sunscreen chemicals that wash off as we frolic don’t just magically disappear. They are ingested by fish, swallowed by swimmers and contaminate plant life. A University of Riverside, California, study showed how sunscreen active ingredients have affected the mating habits of fish. Natural Parks in Mexico, like Xel-Ha and Xcaret, do not permit the use of chemical sunscreen because of the detrimental affect they have on their delicate ecosystems of lagoons, caves, cenotes (ancient wells) and inlets.

Another university study confirmed the sunscreen active ingredient oxybenzone is capable of surviving the sewage treatment process, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 97 percent of the population retains oxybenzone in their system.

With spray sunscreens, copious amounts of nano-sized particles can be breathed into the lungs, contradicting the sunscreen’s own warning label—“Keep spray away from your eyes and mouth”—with the way they are designed to be used. The U.S. Food and drug Administration classifies sunscreen active ingredients as over-the-counter-drugs, and Consumer Reports magazine issued a warning about spray sunscreen to parents in a recent issue.

A new breed of sunscreen, designated as certified 100% natural by the Natural Products Association (NPA), the only organization of its kind in the U.S. to certify natural products, has been gaining ground over the past five years.

Certified 100% natural sunscreens don’t rely on chemical active ingredients. Instead, they use physical active ingredients, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They differ from chemical active ingredients in that they lay on top of the skin to safely reflect or scatter UV radiation. They are biodegradable, so washing them off in water isn’t an environmental problem. NPA awards its Green Seal to those brands that have met their stringent requirements.

Not yet stocked at most retail outlets, the best place to find certified 100% natural sunscreens is on the Internet, along with information about ingredients, SPF ratings, application instructions and general sun care education. A good start can be made at PureSunScreen.com, home of MelanSol 100% natural skin care products.

Michael J. Russ is the president of Oceana Naturals, LLC, authorized U.S. distributor for MelanSol 100% Natural Sunscreen. Contact him at 850-890-1225 or [email protected].