Is your Sunscreen Killing The Reef?
Is your sunscreen killing coral reefs?
Research shows that some 90% of sunscreens are seriously harming our oceans.
In the last 50 years…
85% of Caribbean reefs have disappeared
99% of reefs in the Florida Keys have disappeared
40% of the Great Barrier Reef has disappeared
Have you ever been swimming in a popular tourist destination and you can feel the slimy residue from 100s of peoples sunscreen in the water around you?
Well, that slimy residue is ending up on coral reefs and killing them.
The Bad Guy: Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone is a major ingredient in most sunscreens and it has toxic effects on coral. In sunscreen, it’s a chemical UV filter; filtering out UVA and UVB rays. But at the same time, it exacerbates coral bleaching, damages their DNA and hurts their development. This damage, along with other stressors like water pollution, rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification are preventing corals from both reproducing and surviving in current marine environments.
How Much Oxybenzone is Unsafe for Coral Reefs?
Currently, somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters coral reef areas around the world each year (U.S. National Park Service). Oxybenzone starts causing serious damage at a concentration of 63 parts per trillion – the equivalent of a drop of water in an Olympic swimming pool. Concentrations more than 10 times that amount have been measured at popular swimming beaches in Hawaii with famous coral reefs.
Our oceans are the lungs of the planet – they are the source of half of the world’s oxygen. They absorb carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. This absorption of CO2 is causing the oceans to heat up, which in turn is bleaching (killing) coral reefs. The health of our oceans is imperative to the health of our planet!
Tips for Ensuring You’re Using Reef-safe Sunscreen:
Check the ingredients of your sunscreen for Oxybenzone and Octinoxate - if you see these ingredients…get rid of it!
Avoid aerosol sunscreens
Choose mineral sunscreens that contain Non-nano Zinc Dioxide as the primary active ingredient instead.
Look for reef safe sunscreens –
Brands in the USA: Badger Balm, Raw Elements, Raw Love, All Good.
Brands in Australia: We Are Feel Good Inc. is my favourite!
