Vancouver Island community looks to ban sale of some sunscreens

A small lake community on southern Vancouver Island is considering banning the sale of some types of sunscreen, out of concern that the residue it leaves in the water when people swim is harmful to the marine environment. 

Lake Cowichan Town Coun. Aaron Frisby said, in particular, council wants to prevent the sale and use of sunscreens that are not non-nano mineral sunscreen. 

According to the B.C. Conservation Foundation, chemicals often found in regular sunscreen that could be harmful to marine ecosystems include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, octisalate, enzacamene and nanoparticles. 

Non-nano mineral sunscreens are free of nanoparticles and use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to reflect the sun, the foundation said. 

"We're taking baby steps," Frisby told CBC's On The Island host Gregor Craigie. "We realize that people can bring in sunscreens from other areas and use those, but this is the first step to a bigger picture."

A 2023 study by the B.C. Conservation Foundation, which examined river and lake water, sediment, benthic macroinvertebrates, mussels and fish from the Cowichan watershed from 2019 to 2022, found higher concentrations of oxybenzone in areas that are frequented more often for recreation. 

A recent review of several studies on the effects sunscreen has on marine life found UV filters in sunscreen can have a "significant" impact on organisms, including inhibiting growth and DNA mutations. 

However, the review suggests more research needs to be done to understand the impact of other chemicals, and the effects on more organisms, at different stages of life and in different areas. 

"As of now, we don't really know the full extent of what damage it could have on the environment, but it's good to get ahead of it," Frisby said.

Lake Cowichan is not the first jurisdiction to take this type of action: on Jan. 1, 2021, Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreen containing chemicals — like those listed above — that are harmful to its coral reefs. 

Frisby, who owns a tube rental company in Lake Cowichan, said his business provides river- and lake-safe sunscreen free for customers. He said the B.C. Conservation Foundation and some other organizations have done the same, as a way to acknowledge that non-nano mineral sunscreens generally cost more. 

However, he said, a little goes a long way. 

"You don't want to use a lot, otherwise you'll end up looking like a ghost for most of the day."

Frisby doesn't expect a ban would come into effect until 2026, but in the meantime, said council is taking the opportunity to educate businesses and the public about preferred sunscreen products for the river and lake. 

He said, so far, he's heard positive feedback from the community. 

"The public seems to be on board and also the businesses seem to be on board. So we're moving in the right direction."