A novel online survey approach designed to measure consumer sunscreen application thickness-implications for estimating environmental emissions.

Background: The effects of ultraviolet (UV) filters in the aquatic environment have been well studied, but environmental exposures remain unclear and understudied. Consumer usage directly influences the amount of sunscreen products, and subsequently UV filters, potentially released into the environment.

Objective: To conduct a literature review of previous research into sunscreen application thickness, develop a questionnaire protocol designed to semi-quantify sunscreen usage by US consumers, and conduct a large-scale survey to determine a sunscreen application thickness (to face and body) that is more refined than conservative defaults.

Repurposing consumer sunscreen habits and practices survey data to guide the development of UV filter environmental exposure models and risk assessments.

Objective: A key factor that is deficient in most environmental emissions assessments for UV filters is a keen understanding of consumer habits and practices that can inform realistic exposure assessments. This study utilized a large volunteer survey (>11 000 persons) that captured many factors that affect consumer-based loadings to aquatic environments. The purpose of this study was to utilize this large survey to identify factors that affect the amount of sunscreen products used by consumers.