• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

  • Home
  • About Earth Wise
  • Where to Listen
  • All Articles
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Archives for oxybenzone

oxybenzone

Sunscreen And Coral Reefs | Earth Wise

May 18, 2021 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Toxic sunscreens are killing corals

The dangers of overexposure to UV solar radiation have led to the extensive production and use of sunscreen products.  It is generally understood that many of the chemical compounds used in sunscreen products have toxic effects on marine organisms, but research in this area is relatively limited.

There are estimates that as many as 82,000 kinds of chemicals from personal care products have made their way into the world’s oceans.  In 2015, it was estimated that around 14,000 tons of sunscreen are ending up in the world’s coral reefs per year and causing irreparable damage.

Eighty-five percent of the Caribbean’s coral reefs died before the turn of the century, not as a result of global warming, but because of pollution.  Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two of the common sunscreen ingredients that are most toxic to corals.  Preservatives like parabens are also toxic.

There are much safer sunscreens such as those based on zinc oxide or titanium oxide.  In some places, such eco-friendly sunscreens are mandatory.  Sunscreens with SPF values above 30 contain a higher percentage of chemicals and have been shown to not really provide any more protection than SPF 30 products.

Apart from the choice of sunscreen product, if one really wants to reduce the negative impact sunscreen has on reefs and marine life, wearing sun-protective clothing such as rash-guards will allow the use of much less sunscreen and therefore result in less of it entering the ocean.

Products that can help protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation on human health are extremely important, but it is also important to identify and quantify the risks associated with these products to reef ecosystems.

**********

Web Links

How to Know If Your Sunscreen Is Killing Coral Reefs — and the Brands to Try Instead

Impacts of sunscreen on coral reefs needs urgent attention, say scientists

Photo, posted January 11, 2015, courtesy of Elch Korallen via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Sunscreen And Coral Reefs

July 7, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/EW-07-07-16-Sunscreen-and-Coral-Reefs.mp3

Coral reefs are great tourist attractions.   Nearly a million species of fish, invertebrates and algae live in these biodiversity hotspots and they generate billions of dollars yearly from the tourism industry.

[Read more…] about Sunscreen And Coral Reefs

Primary Sidebar

Recent Episodes

  • Recycling Solar Panels | Earth Wise
  • Wealth And Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Earth Wise
  • The Cost Of Invasive Species | Earth Wise
  • Lampshades And Indoor Air Pollution | Earth Wise
  • The Captive Lion Problem | Earth Wise

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states (more...)

Copyright © 2023 ·