CONSUMER SURVEY ON USE OF SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS

Abstract

OVERVIEW: While the effects of ultraviolet
(UV) filters on aquatic environments have been
well examined, little is known about ambient
exposures. The quantity of sunscreen products
and therefore UV filters that may be emitted into
the environment is directly influenced by
consumer consumption.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a review of the
literature on prior studies on the thickness of
sunscreen application, create a questionnaire
protocol to semi-quantify sunscreen usage by
US consumers, and carry out a large-scale
survey to establish a more precise sunscreen
application thickness (for the face and body)
than conservative defaults. The US Food and
Drug Administration (US FDA) advises using
sunscreen at a rate of 2 mg/cm2. This figure is
often used as a worst-case scenario when
evaluating UV filters for environmental
exposure.
METHODS: A new method for estimating the
thickness of lotion sunscreen application was
designed. It included creating an online
questionnaire procedure and utilizing the
respondents' self-reported height and weight as
well as visual references. Additionally, a study
of the literature was done to gather data on past
sunscreen consumption.
RESULTS: Following dataset refinement, the
sunscreen application thickness of more than
9000 US respondents was approximated using
reported sunscreen quantities and computed
body surface area. For face application
thickness, the mean and median values for
survey participants are 3.00 and 1.78 mg/cm2,
respectively, and for body application thickness,
they are 1.52 and 1.35 mg/cm2, respectively. 36
of the 38 values, according to earlier studies
from 1985 to 2020, are below the US FDA's
recommended application thickness of 2
mg/cm2 (range: 0.2–5 mg/cm2).
IMPACT STATEMENT: This web-based
survey is the first of its type and was created
especially to measure the amount of sunscreen
used by a wide range of customers. This
approach makes it possible to analyze and
comprehend data at a more detailed level by
reaching a wider audience. Sunscreen ingredient
exposure evaluations usually use conservative
criteria. These data may improve such
evaluations and enable more knowledgeable,
scientifically supported risk management
choices.