Sunscreen ingredient kills coral reefs

Alessandra Kelley · Jun 22, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/22/zombie-corals-pose-new-threat-to-worlds-reefs

The International Coral Reef Symposium presented results of numerous studies.

One showed that the presence of oxybenzone, a common sunscreen ingredient, has caused damage to reefs in popular tourist spots.

The chemical kills coral but also causes DNA damage in adult coral and deforms the larval stage, making normal development unlikely. An earlier study showed that the highest concentrations of oxybenzone were found on the reefs most popular with tourists.

Myrealana · Jun 22, 2016

There are coral-safe sunscreens available on the market, aren't there? When we went snorkeling with the Pacific Whale Foundation, they provided a gigantic tub of sunscreen that was supposedly 100% biodegradable and safe for sea life. It was goopy and hard to apply, but it worked.

I would hate to give up snorkeling to save the things I love to see while snorkeling.

King Neptune · Jun 22, 2016

And if you use enough to block UVB, then it will decrease vitamin D levels, but no one does that.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/6-things-you-should-know-about-vitamin-d

Sunscreen ingredient kills coral reefs

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Myrealana

I aim to misbehave

King Neptune