BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
A team of scientists developed a pollen-based sunscreen that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays without endangering coral reefs. Their findings suggest the new formula could be as effective as traditional sunscreens but without the environmental toll.
“We wanted to develop an affordable and effective natural sunscreen that is non-allergenic to humans and eco-friendly to the environment,” explained Nam-Joon Cho, lead author of the study and professor of materials science and engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Testing sunscreen against corals
To compare the effects, researchers placed equal amounts of their pollen sunscreen and a commercial sunscreen into separate 10-liter seawater tanks containing healthy coral. The results were stark: within two days, the commercial sunscreen triggered bleaching, and within six days, it caused coral death. By contrast, the corals exposed to the pollen-based gel remained healthy throughout the 60-day trial.
The team focused on two types of pollen: sunflower and camellia. While sunflower pollen-based sunscreen reached a sun protection factor (SPF) below 5 (and can also trigger allergies) camellia pollen stood out. Its SPF of 27.3 means it blocks about 97 percent of ultraviolet rays, and camellia pollen is typically non-allergenic.
“We know that pollen is naturally UV-resistant, as its shell needs to protect its inner contents from harsh environmental conditions, including sunlight,” Cho said. “Our research aimed to develop a way to process pollen grains into a gel-like form, so that they can be easily applied to human skin.”
The problem with conventional sunscreens
Every year, an estimated 6,000 to 14,000 metric tons of UV filtering chemicals from commercial sunscreens wash into coral-rich coastal waters. Chemicals such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide are known contributors to coral reef decline and can disrupt seagrass and other marine life. Studies have even detected these compounds in dolphins, rainbow trout, and loggerhead turtles.
And while some sunscreens carry a “coral-safe” label, research suggests they are often only slightly less toxic than conventional products.
“This is the type of research we want to see in the development of sunscreen alternatives that are more sustainable,” said David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, who was not involved in the study. He added that the work underscores “one of the deficiencies in sunscreen regulation with respect to fully considering the impact that these products could be having on coral or marine environments.”
A safer path forward
The study offers hope that natural solutions could replace harmful ingredients in sunscreens, protecting both people and ecosystems. While more testing and regulatory review will be needed, the pollen-based sunscreen demonstrates how rethinking everyday products can have ripple effects for human health and the planet.
“The bigger picture here,” Andrews noted, “is that our chemical regulations and the regulation of sunscreen products are not encompassing enough.” Research like this, he stressed, helps point the way toward more comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
Source study: Advanced Functional Materials—Nature’s guard: UV filter from pollen
