Sunscreen ingredient may pose skin cancer risk, researchers find
44 replies, posted
[quote]
(Phys.org) -- As vacationers prepare to spend time outdoors this summer, many of them will pack plenty of sunscreen in hopes it will protect their bodies from overexposure, and possibly from skin cancer. But researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are discovering that sunscreen may not be so safe after all.
Cell toxicity studies by Dr. Yinfa Ma, Curators' Teaching Professor of chemistry at Missouri S&T, and his graduate student Qingbo Yang, suggest that when exposed to sunlight, zinc oxide, a common ingredient in sunscreens, undergoes a chemical reaction that may release unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals seek to bond with other molecules, but in the process, they can damage cells or the DNA contained within those cells. This in turn could increase the risk of skin cancer.
Ma also found that the longer zinc oxide is exposed to sunlight, the greater the potential damage to human cells.
"Zinc oxide may generate free radicals when exposed to UV (ultraviolet) sunlight," May says, "and those free radicals can kill cells."
Ma studied how human lung cells immersed in a solution containing nano-particles of zinc oxide react when exposed to different types of light over numerous time frames. Using a control group of cells that were not immersed in the zinc oxide solution, Ma compared the results of light exposure on the various groups of cells. He found that zinc oxide-exposed cells deteriorated more rapidly than those not immersed in the chemical compound.
Even when exposed to visible light only, the lung cells suspended in zinc oxide deteriorated. But for cells exposed to ultraviolet rays, Ma found that "cell viability decreases dramatically."
When exposed to ultraviolet long-wave light (ultraviolet A or UVA) for 3 hours, half of the lung cells in the zinc oxide solution died. After 12 hours, 90 percent of the cells in that solution died, Ma found.
Why does zinc oxide, an ingredient used in sunscreen to help block harmful UV rays, cause cells to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight? According to Ma, when the zinc oxide nano-particles in the solution absorb the UV rays, the reaction releases electrons, which in turn may produce unstable free radical molecules in the zinc oxide solution. Those free radical molecules then bond with other molecules and act as parasites, damaging the other molecules in the process.
Ma and his colleagues at Missouri S&T published their initial research results in the January 2009 edition of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research. The paper, titled "Toxicity of nano- and micro-sized ZnO particles in human lung epithelial cells," was the first comprehensive study ever published on this subject. Lead author Weisheng Lin was Ma's Ph.D. student at the time. Other authors of the paper were Chuan-Chin Huang, a graduate student in biological sciences at the time, and two members of S&T's biological sciences faculty, Dr. Katie Shannon (assistant professor) and Dr. Yue-Wern Huang (associate professor).
Now, Ma is preparing to publish his latest research results in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. A publication date has not been determined.
Ma's research on zinc oxide's effect on cells is still in the early stages, so he cautions people from drawing conclusions about the safety or dangers of sunscreen based on this preliminary research.
"More extensive study is still needed," May says. "This is just the first step."
For instance, Ma plans to conduct electron spin resonance tests to see whether zinc oxide truly does generate free radicals, as he suspects. In addition, clinical trials will be needed before any conclusive evidence may be drawn from his studies.
In the meantime, Ma advises sunbathers to use sunscreen and to limit their exposure to the sun.
"I still would advise people to wear sunscreen," he says. "Sunscreen is better than no protection at all."
Besides sunscreen, zinc oxide is used in many commercial products, including plastics, paints, ointments and sealants.
Provided by Missouri University of Science and Technology (news : web)[/quote]
[url]http://phys.org/news/2012-05-sunscreen-ingredient-pose-skin-cancer.html[/url]
Breaking news! Everything gives you cancer!
Hahah the irony is amazing.
Good thing I never leave my nerdcave.
That's about as ironic as radiation treatment treating cancer, which it does.
[QUOTE=Marbalo;35875009]everything causes cancer[/QUOTE]
Obligatory Daily Mail song.
[QUOTE=mac338;35875018]Obligatory Daily Mail song.[/QUOTE]
The Dan and Dan one or the Russell Howard one?
everything gives you cancer
cancer gives you everything
[sub][sub]except long life[/sub][/sub]
Get cancer from sunbathing, or get cancer from sunscreen?
Decisions decisions...
Also, obligatory "everything gives you cancer"
Not everything causes cancer, but the list of what causes cancer keeps getting longer.
And who do we thank for that? Fucking science.
I vote we rename the list of things that give you cancer to the list of things that don't give you cancer
If you read the article the researcher says he still suggests wearing sunscreen. I'd go as far as to say the zinc oxide only poses a a small risk compared to UV radiation.
Also it isn't about what causes cancer, its about the amounts. Everything will kill you in large enough doses, or cause cancer in large enough doses. Oxygen kills you (hypoxia), carbon dioxide kills you (hypercapnia), water kills you (hyponatremia), and so on.
So yes you can say, "everything causes cancer", but it is rather ignorant to use that to mean, "everything causes cancer [thus I don't have to worry about what I put in/on my body]". The main issue is media that likes to sensationalize things, and people react by A. listening to everything they say or B. losing fiath in our shitty media.
Thats why I only apply sunscreen on my my massive schlong and let it block out the sunlight from my body when I go outside.
I have a choice of burning to a painful crisp (I've had sunburn on cloudy days. In November) and getting cancer, or putting sunscreen on and getting cancer. Think I might opt for the second one.
[QUOTE=Arctic Snow;35875188]Thats why I only apply sunscreen on my my massive schlong and let it block out the sunlight from my body when I go outside.[/QUOTE]
Your logic is that you'd rather your schlong get cancer than the rest of you?
[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;35875110]I vote we rename the list of things that give you cancer to the list of things that don't give you cancer[/QUOTE]
Blueberries. That's it.
[QUOTE=Alxnotorious;35876296]Your logic is that you'd rather your schlong get cancer than the rest of you?[/QUOTE]
I'll just amputate part of my dick, not hard. Loosing a few [i]meters[/i] of the total isn't going to matter.
[QUOTE=Arctic Snow;35885852]I'll just amputate part of my dick, not hard. Loosing a few [i]meters[/i] of the total isn't going to matter.[/QUOTE]
can i borrow some?
[QUOTE=Ray-The-Sun;35875043]The Dan and Dan one or the Russell Howard one?[/QUOTE]
The 2 dan's are infinately better.
Not having cancer is the #1 cause of getting cancer
A sad day for albinos everywhere.
[QUOTE=Splambob;35874965]Hahah the irony is amazing.
Good thing I never leave my nerdcave.[/QUOTE]
except [url="http://www.ivillage.com/not-enough-sun-work-could-lead-kidney-cancer/4-h-328821"]not getting enough sun gives you cancer[/url]
[editline]9th May 2012[/editline]
i guess there's nothing left to do but embrace our cancerous future
Cancer sucks, I wish it was the future already
[QUOTE=a-k-t-w;35885886]can i borrow some?[/QUOTE]
Sure I'll let you 'borrow' it. Just place some lube in your anus and hold on to your pillow. ;)
[QUOTE=DrLuke;35886420]Cancer sucks, I wish it was the future already[/QUOTE]
Claimed the life of Andy Whitfield and 1 of the Beasty Boys.
Go fuck yourself cancer! GO FUCK YOURSELF WITH A RAKE!
The definitive list of things that don't give you cancer:
oxygen
socks
matt damon
cress
Feel free to add more stuff
so I have to choose between getting skin cancer or getting skin cancer when I go to the beach
damn
[QUOTE=bunnyspy1;35892388]so I have to choose between getting skin cancer or getting skin cancer when I go to the beach
damn[/QUOTE]
Or staying inside which also gives you cancer
yes we get it everything gives you cancer ha ha. can we please discuss this story and stories like it without posting that every 3 minutes
[QUOTE=RobbL;35887029]The definitive list of things that don't give you cancer:
oxygen
socks
matt damon
cress
Feel free to add more stuff[/QUOTE]
Oxygen can cause cancer, actually.
Studies show 100% of people who have cancer have lived or are currently living
Coincidence? I think not
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