美国国家公共电台 NPR Confused About Sunscreen Ingredients? Here's What We've Learned

 

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And now in these dog days of August, a reminder¹ to check what is in your sunscreen. Earlier this year, the FDA raised safety concerns about some chemicals in certain sunscreens. NPR's Patti Neighmond reports.

PATTI NEIGHMOND, BYLINE²: When we buy sunscreen, dermatologist³ Kanade Shinkai with the University of California, San Francisco says most of us don't think about it building up in our bodies.

KANADE SHINKAI: I think there was sort of an assumption that these are - you know, these are things that we apply to our skin. They don't really get into our bloodstream.

NEIGHMOND: But earlier this year, the FDA found four chemicals, including oxybenzone, can enter the bloodstream and at levels significantly higher than the FDA now allows. The federal agency has asked manufacturers to do safety studies to see if sunscreen chemicals absorbed into the bloodstream cause any harmful effects.

SHINKAI: We need to pay attention to these chemical sunscreens and just study them to make sure that they're safe.

NEIGHMOND: While waiting for answers, Shinkai says, there's one thing we know for sure - exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays is a major risk factor for skin cancer, which can be deadly. So don't stop protecting yourself, she says, which is pretty straightforward⁴.

SHINKAI: Seeking shade. Avoiding outdoor activities during the peak hours of the sun, which in general are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

NEIGHMOND: And if you are outside during this time, dermatologist David Leffell with Yale School of Medicine suggests wearing a brimmed hat and sun protective clothing.

DAVID LEFFELL: It used to be that this clothing came in one color. They looked like prison uniforms, and understandably, people weren't excited about wearing them.

NEIGHMOND: But today that's changed. Sun protective clothing now comes in lots of colors and many styles. And if you want to play it completely safe, Leffell says buy a product that contains zinc⁵ oxide⁶ or titanium dioxide, ingredients which are not absorbed into the bloodstream and that have been proved to be safe.

LEFFELL: There are so many products available now that are pure mineral sunblocks that you no longer have to look like you've got a white clown face. The products are really quite elegant.

NEIGHMOND: These mineral sunscreens coat the skin and physically⁷ block the sun's rays by reflecting them away from the skin.

Patti Neighmond, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF SUN GLITTERS' "ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TIME")

1 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 dermatologist   

n.皮肤科医师

参考例句：

• I think you should see a dermatologist first.我想你应当先看皮肤科大夫。
• The general practitioner referred her patient to a dermatologist.家庭医生把她的病人交给了皮肤科医生。

4 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

5 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

6 oxide   

n.氧化物

参考例句：

• Oxide is usually seen in our daily life.在我们的日常生活中氧化物很常见。
• How can you get rid of this oxide coating?你们该怎样除去这些氧化皮？

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。