The National Health Security Agency has requested the withdrawal of octocrylene, a chemical UV filter found in particular in certain sunscreens. ANSES mentions, among other things, effects on the environment. “I find it quite scandalous that the authorities are not moving”, criticizes a professor of biology on Friday.
“It’s quite scandalous that for questions of lobbying or industrial pressure, we haven’t changed the regulations much more quickly”, protested on Friday July 7 on franceinfo Philippe Lebaron, professor of marine biology and biotechnology at Sorbonne University. The National Health Security Agency has sent the government a request for restriction of octocrylene, a chemical UV filter found in many sunscreens.
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This chemical substance is singled out for its effects on the environment. More seriously, this substance turns into benzophenone, a carcinogenic compound. “Benzophenone is prohibited because we know that it has effects on humans and animals”, she explained. The biologist does not understand why “the Ministry of the Environment drags on so much”.
franceinfo: Where do you find octocrylene?
Philippe Lebaron: Fortunately, it is found less and less in sunscreens because it has been shown for several years now that octocrylene has harmful effects for the marine environment, but also for humans. But octocrylene is found not only in sunscreens, but also in shampoos, in anti-aging creams. It is found in clothes to stabilize colors. It is found in plastics. It’s something you find in a lot of products that aren’t just about sunscreens.
What are the risks for the environment?
The environmental risks have been confirmed by a large number of publications. The effect affects a whole series of organisms ranging from marine plants, what we call marine micro-algae, to small invertebrates, crustaceans and then even fish and marine mammals. It’s all been shown. The effect of octocrylene on a whole series of marine animals or plants has been widely demonstrated.
And the risks for humans?
I find it quite scandalous that the authorities are not moving. We published in April 2021, with American colleagues, a study which shows that octocrylene is transformed into benzophenone. So much so that in products that do not contain benzophenone on the list of components and that contain octocrylene, benzophenone is found. Benzophenone comes from the degradation of octocrylene.
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Benzophenone is banned because it is known to affect humans and animals. It is found in the breast milk of breastfeeding women. It is found in the urine of children. It is very toxic to all marine life. We know very, very well that this molecule has negative carcinogenic endocrine disrupting effects in humans. It’s quite scandalous that for reasons of lobbying or industrial pressure, we haven’t changed the regulations much more quickly.
You welcome, of course, this alert?
It’s a bit late, but it’s good that ANSES has issued this alert. But it’s not normal that the Ministry of the Environment hangs around so much and that we still ask I don’t know what. Scientific demonstrations have largely been made. All it takes is for any state agency that has the authority to do chemical testing to actually test products that contain octocrylene, they will find benzophenone. If we have a doubt about octocrylene, we have no doubt about benzophenone.
Should we be wary of all sunscreens?
Be careful not to mix things up. There are many sunscreens today that do not contain octocrylene. You should continue to wear sunscreen. It is extremely important. It is a public health issue for the problem of skin cancer. People need to protect themselves from UV radiation. Not only at the beach, but also on the street when you are exposed to the sun on your face. You should continue to wear sunscreen. The average consumer who will buy a sunscreen when he looks at the chemical composition, it is often written in very small. Even we sometimes get lost in the chemical nomenclature. The advantage of octocrylene is that it is spelled out. If you see octocrylene, don’t buy sunscreen.