Sunscreen Spectra
These data were taken manually in transmittance mode using a Perkin-Elmer Model 559
UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Solutions in 70% isopropyl alcohol were: PABA, 0.1%; oxybenzone, 0.003%; octyl salicylate, 0.01%. The commercial sunscreen mixture ("NO-AD" SPF 45) was suspended at 0.05% and centrifuged to clarity.
For these data in an Excel spreadsheet, click here.
Percent Transmittance
| nm |
PABA |
oxybenzone |
octyl salicylate |
commercial |
| 240 |
38.2 |
15.7 |
12.7 |
15.2 |
| 245 |
22.5 |
12.9 |
9.6 |
16.8 |
| 250 |
11.6 |
13.1 |
21.2 |
23.1 |
| 255 |
5.6 |
16.0 |
65.6 |
25.9 |
| 260 |
2.9 |
19.2 |
83.5 |
24.5 |
| 265 |
1.8 |
18.7 |
80.5 |
20.5 |
| 270 |
1.5 |
12.9 |
67.7 |
13.7 |
| 275 |
1.5 |
6.7 |
51.0 |
7.7 |
| 280 |
1.7 |
3.2 |
33.1 |
4.2 |
| 285 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
17.8 |
2.5 |
| 290 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
9.2 |
1.8 |
| 295 |
4.8 |
2.7 |
5.0 |
1.6 |
| 300 |
9.0 |
4.2 |
3.0 |
1.5 |
| 305 |
18.2 |
5.7 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
| 310 |
36.9 |
6.4 |
2.7 |
1.3 |
| 315 |
62.5 |
6.4 |
4.4 |
1.6 |
| 320 |
82.9 |
6.0 |
10.8 |
2.5 |
| 325 |
92.7 |
6.0 |
29.2 |
4.5 |
| 330 |
97.9 |
6.4 |
57.8 |
8.6 |
| 335 |
98.6 |
7.5 |
78.5 |
15.7 |
| 340 |
99.2 |
9.7 |
93.5 |
25.5 |
| 345 |
99.7 |
13.7 |
96.3 |
36.2 |
| 350 |
100.0 |
21.0 |
98.1 |
46.8 |
| 355 |
100.0 |
32.0 |
99.6 |
58.0 |
| 360 |
100.0 |
45.3 |
100.0 |
67.6 |
| 365 |
100.0 |
59.2 |
100.0 |
86.6 |
| 370 |
100.0 |
69.6 |
100.0 |
91.6 |
| 375 |
100.0 |
84.0 |
100.0 |
94.3 |
| 380 |
100.0 |
92.6 |
100.0 |
96.8 |
| 385 |
100.0 |
95.2 |
100.0 |
97.9 |
| 390 |
100.0 |
98.9 |
100.0 |
98.5 |
| 395 |
100.0 |
99.7 |
100.0 |
99.2 |
| 400 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
99.8 |
| 405 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Transmittances are 100% throughout the rest of the visible region.
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