Spraying sunscreen spray all over the place, will it cause "white lungs"? Carcinogenic? Inflammable and explosive? Zundu fake~

Spraying sunscreen all over the body before going out has become a basic practice for young people. After all, sunscreen spray is efficient and easy to use, and it does not feel greasy, so it is naturally favored by many people.

However, there are rumors on the Internet that "sunscreen spray causes 'white lungs'", "sunscreen spray causes cancer", and "sunscreen spray turns into a flamethrower in seconds", which are simply shocking. So are these true or false? Let's find out.

01 Does sunscreen spray cause “white lung”?

There have been reports of "white lungs" appearing in CT scans due to misuse of sunscreen spray. As we all know, the horrifying "white lungs" generally appear in patients with severe lung inflammation, that is, bilateral lung lesions reach more than 75%, and appear as large white areas in the lungs in imaging, so it is called "white lungs". This kind of "white lungs" often indicates severe pneumonia, and even life-threatening, so everyone is also terrified of "white lungs". So, can the use of sunscreen spray really cause such severe pneumonia?

Image source: Pixabay

In fact, this "white lung" is not the same as that "white lung". The reason for the "white lung" here is mainly caused by inhaling a large amount of spray, which is a relatively special case. Generally speaking, the "white lung" caused by sunscreen spray is mostly "allergic pneumonia" rather than "aspiration pneumonia" in the general sense.

Allergic reactions are more related to the individual's immune status than to the amount of spray inhaled. Patients may experience clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, and cyanosis. Mild symptoms can improve within a few hours, while severe ones require hospitalization and generally have a good prognosis.

So if you are not allergic, is it safe to use sunscreen spray? In principle, yes, but it also depends on whether the specific ingredients of the sunscreen spray are harmful to the human body, and whether long-term and large-scale exposure to these substances will have a certain impact on the body. Even if the chemical ingredients are not toxic to humans, they may irritate the respiratory tract and cause dry and itchy throats. People who are sensitive may also have symptoms such as coughing and expectoration.

Therefore, avoid inhalation when using sunscreen spray. Don't think that you can just hold your breath when spraying. When you spray, there are high concentrations of chemicals in the surrounding environment, and you will eventually inhale them into your lungs.

02 Does sunscreen spray cause cancer?

When it comes to whether the ingredients in sunscreen spray are harmful to the human body, it reminds people of the incident in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled sunscreen products with excessive benzene content.

Benzene is a carcinogen and there is no safe dose. Even long-term exposure to low concentrations of benzene may induce serious consequences such as leukemia, myeloma, and recurrent miscarriage.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines benzene as a carcinogen and lists "inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact" as exposure routes. The FDA has clearly stated that benzene should not be used in standard drug production at all because it is unacceptably toxic, and even 0.1 ppm of benzene in sunscreen may expose people to cancer risks.

The main function of sunscreen spray is to prevent ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin, so it usually contains UV absorbers or filters, such as oxybenzone, benzophenone-3, avobenzone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate), titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. From these main ingredients, there is no clear evidence that these ingredients have a carcinogenic risk.

However, in 2020, titanium dioxide was certified by the European Union as a Class II suspected carcinogen posing a source of inhalation risk. However, the US FAD allows the use of titanium dioxide in sunscreen cosmetics, but only regulates its concentration: the maximum concentration shall not exceed 25%.

Currently, most regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), consider sunscreen sprays to be safe under normal use, but recommend that inhalation of the spray be avoided as much as possible.

In addition, some sprays add petroleum extracts as propellants during production, mainly because of their low boiling point and uniform misting effect, which will quickly vaporize after contact with the human body. However, if petroleum extracts are not fully purified during production, carcinogens may remain, and long-term high-dose exposure will definitely pose a health risk.

03 Is sunscreen spray flammable and explosive?

Yes, you heard it right, most of the sunscreen sprays on the market are flammable and explosive.

First, most sunscreen sprays use alcohol as a solvent, which is a flammable substance and will ignite immediately when it encounters a fire source. Second, some sunscreen sprays use liquefied petroleum gas as a propellant, which is a mixture of propane and butane and is highly flammable. If the sunscreen spray is used at high temperatures or near open flames, there is a risk of ignition, so when using sunscreen spray, be sure to avoid fire sources.

In addition, due to its aerosol nature and portability, sunscreen spray is usually stored in aluminum cans and the container is a compressed gas cylinder. Generally, it does not pose a danger. However, under extreme conditions, such as the accumulation of a large amount of flammable gas in a closed space and encountering an ignition source, it is possible to explode.

Image source: Pixabay

Therefore, when using sunscreen spray, we must pay attention to the surrounding environment and make sure to keep away from flames, lit cigarettes or other heat sources that may cause fire. Do not store sunscreen spray in places with high temperatures or direct sunlight, such as not leaving it in a car exposed to the sun to prevent the can from exploding due to heat. If you are in a high-temperature environment outdoors for a long time or use it while camping, it is recommended to use sunscreen cream or gel instead.

Generally speaking, the ingredients of sunscreen spray products that have passed the inspection are safe, but you should avoid inhalation during use and do not spray it on your face. You can spray it on your arms, back of the neck, legs and other parts of the body in a well-ventilated place. Keep away from fire when using it. If the ambient temperature is too high, it is recommended to use other sunscreen products such as sunscreen instead.

Source: Chongqing Science and Technology Museum

Author: He Wenting, Chongqing Children's Hospital

Audit expert: Li Chunli

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