About 97% of people tested had oxybenzone in their urine, and the chemical shows up in waterways and fish worldwide. In humans, it's been linked to allergic reactions and possible hormone disruption. Environmentally, it damages coral reefs and harms fish—and it doesn't break down in water treatment, meaning it cycles back into drinking water and our bodies.

Researchers reviewed data from the CDC's national chemical exposure report, analyzed scientific literature on oxybenzone's effects in humans and ecosystems, and examined how the chemical behaves when it enters water systems.

Funding not disclosed in abstract