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There are potential health effects of chemical ingredients found in most sunscreens. Sunscreens are photoprotective preparations applied on skin for protection against melanoma (skin cancer) and sunburn. As the ingredients of sunscreen get absorbed into the skin, FDA carried out research on absorption levels for its chemical ingredients and found that 6 out of 8 active ingredients are absorbed at an alarming rate, far beyond the threshold limit.

PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are behind a variety of products that we use everyday that make our lives a little bit easier. But US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry studies have shown that an excess of PFAS can harm our heart, liver, reproductive, and renal systems and lead to cancer.

There are now more than 100 million chemicals, and thousands of new ones are still being introduced each year. Surprisingly, though, the toxicity is known for less than 1% of chemicals, and many times it is not comprehensive enough.

We talked with an experienced chemist who has worked as a synthetic medicinal chemist focusing on the drug discovery process. Here are some of the changes he’s seen and his message for peers. (For privacy’s sake, we are not printing his name). By Laurie Kretchmar

Scientists wondered for 20 years why coho salmon were dying on the U.S. West Coast, until chemists identified the toxin to blame.

Plastic has been filling landfills worldwide. Despite the efforts to sort and recycle, less than 9% of plastic gets recycled in the U.S. with most ending up in landfill or in the environment.

Recently the Hawaii Government passed their first bill in the country that will ban sunscreens that contain chemicals harmful to coral reefs, which is effective from January 1, 2021.

As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. However, some chemicals may persist in the environment effectively for eternity, causing potential health hazards and endangering habitats.

Sustainable, or “green,” chemistry sounds like it could slow climate change and protect our natural environment. The term is vague though—what sort of science actually qualifies as sustainable?

Functional groups in molecules are like personalities, and understanding functional groups and their reactivity is crucial to the practice of green chemistry.