EcoWatch: Toxic sunscreens are harmful to our oceans
“Sunscreen is a surprising culprit of ocean pollution, and one that’s getting the attention it deserves. Not only are the chemicals in sunscreens damaging to marine life and reefs but
they’re also absorbed by your skin.”
2023 Avocado Impact Report
Now that the summer season has officially started, thousands of people will be heading to the beach to enjoy the water, sand and shore life. They will be bringing their beach balls, pop and snacks, all for a safe, fun filled day.
However, one item that they will be bringing will be toxic to the health of gulf waters and oceans, harming fish, whales, dolphins and above all coral reef: sunscreens. Many contain chemicals that are toxic to the creatures of the sea and coral reefs.
Coral reefs are vital ecosystems for underwater life, providing food sources and nesting grounds for hundreds of species. They also help stabilize the sea floor, prevent coastal erosion and protect coastal areas from storm surge by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast. They contribute to the mitigation of climate change by regulating the carbon dioxide level in the ocean, filter and clean sea water and provide a source of income for millions of people.
The National Park Service fond that sunscreen-induced bleaching threatens up to 10 percent of coral reefs worldwide, and although the amount one person uses may seem insignificant, it adds up: the service estimates that 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers and into the sea each year.
The Oceanic Society found even higher figures of pollution, writing, “Scientists estimate that between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen – the equivalent of 25 to 60 million bottles – wash off snorkelers and swimmers into coral reef environment each year.” At the same time, ocean and coastal tourism is growing, and it is estimated that more than a billion people worldwide would be visiting beaches.
A study done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed that “Common chemicals used in thousands of products to protect against harmful effects of ultraviolet light threaten corals and other marine life.” In this study, the chemical Oxybenzone – or BP-3 – was found to be toxic to juvenile corals and other sea life. Oxybenzone, a common chemical found in more than 3,500 sunscreen and skin care products worldwide, to protect against UV radiation, can easily enter waterways and oceans by washing off from swimmers.
The use of sunscreens that contain such chemicals can have impacts on many marine organisms besides coral. A few examples are as follows:
- Green Algae: Can impair growth and photosynthesis
- Mussels: Can induce defects in young.
- Sea Urchins: Can damage immune and reproductive systems and deform young
- Fish: Can decrease fertility and reproduction and cause female characteristics in male fish
- Dolphins: Can accumulate in tissues and be transferred to young
NOAA also recommends several steps beachgoers can take to reduce the harm sunscreen has on the environment:
- Consider sunscreen without chemicals that can harm marine life
- Use Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)
- Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and cover up with an umbrella, sun hat, sun shirt, leggings, etc. instead of using as much sunscreen
Avoiding purchasing sunscreen with these harmful ingredients can also help preserve coral reefs and other marine life:
- 3-Benzylidene camphor
- 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor • Octocrylene
- Benzophenone-1
- Benzophenone-8
- OD-PABA
- nano-Titanium dioxide
- nano-Zinc oxide
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
What are the safe sunscreens? It may take you time to study and find an outlet for just the right safe sunscreen to use, but it is crucial to the ecosystem that you consider doing your part to help protect coral reefs and the creatures that call them home. Two of the safest and most effective sunscreens are Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ and Thinksport SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen.
Of course, sunscreen is not the only threat corals face. According to NOAA, “Many serious corals reef ecosystem stressors originate from land-based sources, most notably toxicants, sediments and nutrients.” Sources for these harmful substances include failed septic systems, oil and chemical spills and agricultural runoff.
As you head to the beach this summer, please do your research in finding a safe sunscreen for your outing. Only you can save our corals.
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