The ingredients in sunscreen that are harmful to reefs are oxybenzone and octinoxate.
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Some of the most common sunscreen ingredients on the market are harmful to reefs. Specifically, oxybenzone and octinoxate are the two chemicals that have been shown to be harmful to coral reefs. These two chemicals contribute to coral bleaching, which can cause irreparable damage to coral ecosystems.
In addition to oxybenzone and octinoxate, some sunscreens also contain other chemicals that can be harmful to marine life, such as homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone. It is important to read the ingredients list on sunscreen products and avoid those that contain these harmful chemicals.
According to National Geographic, “Up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen are thought to wash into coral reefs each year.” This amount of sunscreen can have a significant impact on the health of coral reefs worldwide. To combat this issue, some governments have implemented bans on sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, such as in Hawaii and Palau.
Overall, it is important to choose reef-safe sunscreens that do not contain harmful chemicals. Check for the presence of oxybenzone and octinoxate in the ingredients list, and look for sunscreens that use mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide instead. By taking care to choose non-toxic products, we can help protect our coral reefs and the marine life that depend on them.
| Harmful Sunscreen Ingredients | Reef-Safe Sunscreen Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Oxybenzone | Zinc oxide |
| Octinoxate | Titanium dioxide |
| Homosalate | |
| Octisalate | |
| Octocrylene | |
| Avobenzone |
“Sun care is not an option. It has to be used. But using a product that is designed to protect you without hurting the environment is the responsible way to do it.” – Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory.
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Sunscreen washes off your body when you swim and shower and enters the marine environment. Common chemical sunscreen ingredients, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, can kill coral and damage coral reefs.
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The video addresses the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs, debunking the notion that it is the major cause of coral reef damage. While oxybenzone and octinoxate have been found to be harmful, the amounts of sunscreen in the ocean are extremely low, and the potential harm is tiny when compared to the widespread damage caused by climate change and agricultural management. To protect coral reefs, people should use sunscreens that contain ingredients like titanium dioxide, limit the amount of sunscreen that comes off the body into the water, and reduce their carbon footprint by making sustainable lifestyle choices. It’s important to carefully read the ingredients of sunscreens and opt for those that have minimal or no harm to coral.
More interesting questions on the issue
Consequently, What ingredient in sunscreen is harmful to reefs?
The response is: Oxybenzone, or BP-3, is found in more than 3,500 skin care products worldwide for protection against the sun’s harmful effects. The compound has been found entering the environment both through wastewater effluent and directly from swimmers wearing sunscreens.
Also, Are all sunscreens damaging to coral reefs? As a response to this: Opt for mineral sunscreens that use ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. But remember that not all mineral sunscreens are reef-safe. In order to be reef-safe, the ingredients must be “non-nano,” or larger than 100 nanometer in size, as this makes it less likely that it will be absorbed by marine life.
Herein, What sunscreen ingredients are banned in Hawaii? Response: In 2021, the state banned sunscreens containing the chemical active ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate because studies have shown these chemicals to have harmful impacts on Hawaii’s marine environment and ecosystems, including coral reefs.
How does oxybenzone affect marine life?
The reply will be: There are numerous studies that show that oxybenzone can cause coral bleaching in hard corals, or the loss of a beneficial algae that live on and feed the coral[9,10,19]. Coral bleaching leads to starvation and death of the coral.
Considering this, How does sunscreen affect coral reefs? The response is: When corals become stressed due to increased water temperatures or pollution from chemicals found in sunscreen, they expel the zooxanthallae. These tiny creatures are a lifeline for the coral, and without them they lose the main food and oxygen source and also the wide array of colors that make coral so attractive.
Similarly one may ask, What is in sunscreen kills coral?
“Research shows that some of the sunscreen chemicals people should avoid to protect their health, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, may also endanger the health of coral reefs,” says Leiba. Oxybenzone, in particular, has been proven to have some pretty detrimental effects on the reefs.
Herein, What is reef-safe sunscreen?
Answer: A reef-safe sunscreen is one free of chemicals and particles known to harm coral reefs. Jason Lim/Getty Images A reef-safe sunscreen is a sunscreen free of chemical ingredients and small particles known to damage and potentially kill coral reefs in the oceans. Those ingredients are, to date, oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.
Besides, How does sunscreen affect coral reefs?
When corals become stressed due to increased water temperatures or pollution from chemicals found in sunscreen, they expel the zooxanthallae. These tiny creatures are a lifeline for the coral, and without them they lose the main food and oxygen source and also the wide array of colors that make coral so attractive.
Likewise, What is in sunscreen kills coral? Response will be: “Research shows that some of the sunscreen chemicals people should avoid to protect their health, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, may also endanger the health of coral reefs,” says Leiba. Oxybenzone, in particular, has been proven to have some pretty detrimental effects on the reefs.
What is reef-safe sunscreen?
A reef-safe sunscreen is one free of chemicals and particles known to harm coral reefs. Jason Lim/Getty Images A reef-safe sunscreen is a sunscreen free of chemical ingredients and small particles known to damage and potentially kill coral reefs in the oceans. Those ingredients are, to date, oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.