We tested popular mineral sunscreens for lead. Here's what we found.

As families across King County head to parks, beaches, and pools this summer, some are asking the same question after a recent report about lead in mineral sunscreens: Should I be concerned?

To help answer that question, the Hazardous Waste Management Program and Public Health – Seattle & King County purchased several popular mineral sunscreen products from local retailers and sent them to an accredited laboratory for testing.

The results were reassuring. Most of the mineral sunscreens tested contained very low levels of lead not expected to pose a health risk during normal use.

Why test sunscreen?

After independent testing conducted by environmental advocacy organization Lead Safe Mama found lead in some mineral sunscreen products, the Haz Waste Program sought to better understand what those findings meant for King County residents. The Program tested popular mineral sunscreen brands to determine whether lead was present, whether levels varied between batches, and how the results compared with previous studies.

What did we find?

Most of the mineral sunscreens we tested contained detectable levels of lead, but the amounts were very low and are not expected to pose a health risk when the products are used as directed. Three samples had no measurable lead, and only one product tested above the state of Washington's current cosmetic lead limit. Overall, findings were consistent with other independent testing, with only small differences between product batches.

“Our testing provides reassuring news to people who have questions about using mineral sunscreen,” says Dr. Katie Fellows, an environmental scientist with the Haz Waste Program and a co-author of the report. “People shouldn't stop using sunscreen. The protection it provides against harmful UV rays far outweighs the potential risk from these trace amounts.”

Why can lead be found in mineral sunscreens?

Mineral sunscreens contain ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that come from naturally occurring minerals. Those minerals can contain trace amounts of metals, including lead, which are not intentionally added and may vary slightly from batch to batch.

What does this mean for you?

Continue using sunscreen. Based on current scientific understanding, the low levels of lead detected in most of the products we tested are not expected to pose a health risk during normal use. Sunscreen remains one of the best ways to protect yourself from harmful UV rays and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

For the best protection, combine sunscreen with other sun-safe habits like wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and limiting time in direct sunlight.

The bottom line: The benefits of protecting your skin from the sun continue to outweigh the potential risk from the very low levels of lead found in most of the products we tested.

Learn more about sunscreen and sun safety from the Washington State Department of Health.