![]() ![]() Swapping out sunscreen lotions and creams for protective clothing may be the ideal way to conserve our reefs, but it isn't always possible. By covering up your arms and torso with a sun shirt instead of sunscreen, you can reduce your sunscreen consumption by up to 50%. The very best course of action in the fight to save our oceans is, when possible, to swap sunscreen lotion for sun protective clothing such as long-sleeved bathing suits, hats, and swim leggings with built-in broad-spectrum UV protection. When shopping for reef-safe sunscreen, simply check the label and look for the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The key to keeping ocean life happy and healthy is to go for an SPF that uses physical UVA and UVB filters instead of chemical ones that contribute to the deterioration of coral reefs. A whopping 80% of the Caribbean coral reefs have been lost in the last 50 years, a stark indicator of the damage being caused by pollution. Bearing in mind that an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter our oceans each year, this is certainly a major cause of concern and the evidence is clear to see. An alarming 2015 study of coral reefs in Hawaii, the U.S Virgin Islands, and Isreal observed that a single drop of oxybenzone-containing sunscreen damages an area of ocean the equivalent of 6.5 Olympic swimming pools. You may be wondering why the sudden move to ban these products that have been widely used and FDA approved for years. Once coral has been bleached it no longer regenerates, eradicating shelter and food for marine life ecosystems. Coral bleaching damages coral and leaves it vulnerable to disease, or worse yet, death. Oxybenzone damages coral DNA, leading to coral deformation, abnormalities, and coral bleaching. Reef-safe sunscreen is the term used to describe sunscreens that don't contain the UV blocking chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate. ![]() What exactly is reef-safe sunscreen? Let’s take a closer look. This law came into full effect in Hawaii in January 2021, banning over 3,500 sunscreen products and making it only possible to buy reef-safe sunscreens on the island. In fact, sunscreen pollution in our waters has reached such heights that popular vacation spots like Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Virgin Islands, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii have banned sunscreens containing chemicals that harm the environment. The environmental risks caused by sunscreen have prompted several sunscreen manufacturers to produce their own reef-safe formulas. – Craig Downs, Ph.D., Executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory It’s also a major factor in decreased water quality,” “Sunscreen pollution is a real phenomenon and it poses a threat to coral reefs and aquatic life. This influx of chemicals from sunscreen, together with overfishing and pollution, has led to a serious decline in the overall conditions of the world's oceans. ![]() The chemicals found in conventional sunscreens are leaking into reefs and contributing to the decline of coral reefs in our waters. Others estimate as much as 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in the world's coral reefs every year, negatively impacting the ecosystem. An estimated 6,000 tons of sunscreen finds its way in and around ocean reefs each year, according to The National Park Service. ![]()
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