Coral reefs are more than simply pretty, colorful sea creatures. They're essential creatures that help preserve marine biodiversity while also safeguarding and feeding coastal communities. However, oxybenzone, a common sunscreen component, jeopardizes our precious coral reefs.
The surprising findings of the recent study, "Sunscreens threaten coral survival," might aid in developing and commercializing effective, coral-friendly sunscreens.
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 6: A young woman places suncream on her friend while the sunbath on the beach during a heatwave August 6, 2003 in Eastbourne, England. Temperatures in the UK continue to reach hot weather records.
Sunscreens Can Poison Coral Reefs
Sea anemones and mushroom corals can convert oxybenzone, a molecule that protects people from UV radiation, into a fatal poison when exposed to light. The good news is that algae that coexist with the organisms may absorb the toxin and reduce its effects.
However, Science News previously reported that bleached coral reefs and those environments lacking algae might be more prone to its death. Corals and anemones overheated can expel beneficial algae that supply oxygen and eliminate waste, turning reefs white.
Djordje Vuckovic, a Ph.D. student in civil and environmental engineering, said it would be a cruel irony if ecotourism aimed at saving coral reefs would increase their destruction.
The findings will perhaps pave the way for the creation of coral-safe sunscreens.
Up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen, enough to the weight of 50 blue whales, wash across the US reef zones each year, according to the National Park Service, ScienceDaily reported.
As a result, sunscreens with oxybenzone are no longer sold in the United States. The Virgin Islands and Hawaii, as well as the island nation of Palau and Bonaire, a Dutch island municipality, are among the destinations that have banned sunscreens with oxybenzone.
However, because the mechanisms by which oxybenzone causes harm are largely unknown, it isn't easy to know whether the sunscreen ingredients recommended as substitutes are safer for corals.
ALSO READ: First-Ever Mapping on Living Corals Identify Heatwave Impact, Reveals 'Winner and Loser' Reefs
After learning about Hawaii's planned ban, William Mitch, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, got interested in the matter.
With financing from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, he and John Pringle, a professor of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine, began working to uncover the chemical and biological pathways through which oxybenzone impacts corals.
The researchers warn that oxybenzone isn't the only sunscreen ingredient to be wary of.
The same metabolic pathways that appear to turn oxybenzone into a potent coral toxin may also occur with other common sunscreen compounds. Many of which have similar chemical structures and may produce similar phototoxic metabolites.
Metals like zinc and titanium, rather than chemical ingredients like oxybenzone, are used in many coral-safe sunscreens.
According to the researchers, although various sunscreens function fundamentally differently, it is unclear if they are genuinely safer for corals.
How To Protect Corals From Harmful Sunscreens
Scientists have also discovered that some chemicals found in sunscreen and other personal care products impair the health of coral reefs. These and other pollutants' impacts on reef ecosystems are constantly being researched.
Even though certain forms of sunscreen are prohibited by the government, they can be used to protect against burns and skin cancer. National Geographic shared some steps in protecting the corals.
Check Out Sunscreen Ingredients
Peter Gash, managing director of Lady Elliot Island, near the Great Barrier Reef, suggests using oxybenzone-free reef-safe sunscreen. Choose mineral-based sunblocks containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are "non-nano" particles corals can't eat. Consult the Consumer Products Inventory if you're unsure whether a sunscreen contains nanoparticles.
Choose Sunscreens Safe For The Environment
The Environmental Working Group analyzes products with SPF values-including around 650 sunscreens and 250 moisturizers on their environmental effect. At the same time, Haereticus Environmental Lab lists what sunscreens are safe for the environment each year.
Wear UV-Protective Clothing
Wearing UV-protective hats, shirts, and other clothing can minimize the quantity of sunscreen you need by up to 90%. In addition, these things will last far longer than a bottle of sunscreen.
RELATED ARTICLE: Fish Communities in the Great Barrier Reef Losing Colors Due to Complex Coral Reefs Decline, Study Reveals
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