By Brandon Rose

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Did you know that more than half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products could actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer? It’s because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Well isn’t this ironic? I always applied sunscreen because my parents told me I’d get skin cancer if I didn’t. Not only are these popular sunscreens harmful to your body but they may also be destructing the eco systems in which you swim, as well.

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Each year, 4000 – 6000 tons of sunscreen is washed off beach bodies and then enters the ocean. According to the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, certain sunscreen ingredients have been shown to cause destruction of the coral reefs. In their experiments they showed that chemicals like parabens, ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor induce a viral infection of algae living in the corals, which leads to bleaching.

You may want to reconsider which sunscreen to bring to the beach this summer.

To help you find out which popular sunscreens to avoid, check out EWG’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide.

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