Why don't chemical UV filters belong in the environment?

Every year, 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen end up in the sea. That's of course not where sunscreen belongs, and some creams can do quite a bit of damage there. Particularly problematic are the ingredients octinoxate and oxybenzone, which are both chemical UV filters.
Some chemical UV filters break down only poorly (or not at all) and stay in the water. They settle in the sediment or build up in organisms. They're often discussed in connection with corals, since they're one reason coral reefs are dying. That's why some popular travel destinations like Hawaii and Palau have already banned them.

Would a ban like that make sense here too? Even when we go for a swim here in the Baltic Sea or the lake next door, it can have serious effects on marine life. Some chemical UV filters can build up in sea creatures and disrupt their hormone system even at low concentrations. They can reduce fertility in fish, impair growth and photosynthesis in green algae, poison corals, affect gene regulation in mosquitoes, cause defects in young mussels and be toxic to marine crustaceans.

So on your next sunscreen hunt, better look for mineral UV filters. One solid alternative is, for example, our mineral solid sunscreen Naseweiss. Also make sure not to put cream on right before swimming.

PS: Don't forget to wear sunscreen not just at the beach but all year round. The sun isn't only out in summer.