Concerns over how some sunscreens are being tested | 7.30

Key Concepts:

• Sun Protection Factor (SPF): A measure of how well a sunscreen protects skin from UVB rays.
• Princeton Consumer Research (PCR): A testing lab used by sunscreen manufacturers to certify SPF claims.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): The Australian regulatory body for sunscreens.
• SPF Testing Protocols: Standardized methods for determining the SPF of sunscreens.
• Water Resistance Testing: Evaluating how well a sunscreen maintains its SPF after water immersion.
• Data Integrity: The reliability and accuracy of test results.
• Consumer Risk: The potential harm to consumers from using sunscreens that do not meet their SPF claims.

Sunscreen Testing Failures and Consumer Risk

• Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, making sunscreen a critical defense.
• A Choice consumer group test revealed that 16 out of 20 popular sunscreens in Australia failed to meet their SPF claims.
• One SPF 50+ product was found to have an SPF of just 4 and was recalled.
• At least half of the failed products used Princeton Consumer Research (PCR) to certify their SPF claims.
• The failures undermine 40 years of public health messaging about sun protection.
• "Tanning is skin cells in trauma."

Allegations Against Princeton Consumer Research (PCR)

• A former PCR employee, Brian Echofield, spoke out about the lab's practices.
• Echofield alleged that PCR incorrectly incorporated the European protocol to test American products.
• Emails obtained by 7:30 show Echofield alerting Barry Druit (PCR's technical director) and Tony Balo (PCR's founder and CEO) to the issue.
• Barry Druit admitted in an email, "I have no idea about SPF."
• Tony Balo instructed staff to stop using the hybrid method.
• A PCR manager believed the wrong method had been used for other products in the past.
• Echofield left PCR and started his own cosmetic testing company due to disillusionment.
• PCR denies any allegation of unethical practice or breach of protocol.

Concerns About Data Integrity

• Dr. Michael Trout, a sunscreen expert, and five other experts examined PCR test reports of Australian sunscreens.
• They found that when the same product was tested on 10 different people's skin, it performed almost identically, which is statistically improbable.
• Dr. Trout stated, "I cannot explain how those results are possible. There is nothing about those results that are typical."
• In one case, an SPF 30 sunscreen came back with a water-resistant value of 41.2 despite not being a water-resistant product.
• Internal emails show PCR staff questioning the incident.

Regulatory Oversight and Industry Response

• The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates sunscreens in Australia.
• The TGA requires sunscreen makers to hire a testing lab like PCR to certify the SPF, but it does not regulate these labs.
• The TGA does not check the SPF report before the products are available for sale.
• The TGA is investigating PCR and providing guidance to sunscreen makers on how to pick a reliable SPF testing lab.
• Ultraviolet was the first brand to cease using PCR, and many others have since followed suit.
• Baxter Laboratories, a major manufacturer for brands like Cancer Council, Woolworths Sun, Sunbomb, and Bonds, has also stopped using PCR and is retesting products.
• Baxter's CEO stated, "We take confidence in SPF testing very seriously."

Maintaining Consumer Confidence

• Dr. Raid maintains that there are still many viable sunscreens on the market.
• People should still have confidence in the vast majority of sunscreen products and they should still provide adequate protection from the sun, especially if used frequently.
• Dr. D says the industry has a lot to do to restore trust.
• "Things have to be done to to write the ship because if you're not getting the protection, you're going to get a burn when you shouldn't have. Those burns over time are known. the studies are there lead to skin cancer. So it's it's not a mystery what happens when these products aren't performing."

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The investigation reveals significant concerns about the reliability of sunscreen testing in Australia, particularly regarding the practices of PCR. The alleged use of incorrect testing methods, statistically improbable results, and lack of regulatory oversight have raised questions about the accuracy of SPF claims on sunscreens. While the TGA is taking steps to address the issue and the industry is responding by retesting products, restoring consumer trust will require greater transparency, stricter regulations, and a commitment to accurate and reliable SPF testing. Despite the uncertainty, experts emphasize that many viable sunscreens remain on the market and that consistent sunscreen use is still crucial for protecting against skin cancer.