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.