PITTSBURGH -- According to a survey by the Environmental Working Group some of the best-selling sunscreens don't protect the skin from the sun very well.

The group investigated almost 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products and found that most fail to adequately protect consumers or contain chemicals that may pose health hazards.

The EWG found that 85 percent of sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from UV rays, or have ingredients that either are known health hazards or have not been tested for safety.

The environmental group said none of Coppertone's 41 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only 1 of 103 products from Neutrogena and Banana Boat is recommended by EWG.

The research is based on nearly 400 peer-reviewed studies of the 17 sunscreen chemicals approved for use in the U.S.

EWG's scientists found that some popular sunscreen chemicals actually break down when exposed to sunlight.

Others penetrate the skin and pose health concerns, including allergic reaction, hormone disruption and skin damage.

The group said it has waited for years for the FDA to come up with safety standards, and Jane Houlihan of EWG said, "We're still waiting. Everyone who spends time outdoors this summer ought to have reliable information on how to protect themselves from the sun. But the government isn't doing its job, and the manufacturers are selling sunscreens that claim 'broad spectrum' protection on the label, but that doesn't deliver it, leaving consumers with too much exposure to the sun's damaging rays."

The SPF rating on the product is helpful, but it is only part of what a consumer needs to know.

The EWG has a sunscreen database that rates sunscreens and includes critical information on UVA protection, how stable the product is in the sun, and potential health hazards of the product's ingredients.

EWG Sunscreen Datatbase