Sunscreen Ingredient Toxic to Coral, Killing Off Reefs, Researchers Say... Which Is More Important to You, Your Skin or the Coral Reef?

2015-10-22T10:36:06-04:00

Which is more important to you, your skin or the coral reef?

ORLANDO, Fla. — A common ingredient found in sunscreen is toxic to coral and contributing to the decline of reefs around the world, according to new research published on Tuesday.

Oxybenzone, a UV-filtering chemical compound found in 3,500 brands of sunscreen worldwide, can be fatal to baby coral and damaging to adults in high concentrations, according the study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.

The international research team that conducted the study, led by Craig Downs, found the highest concentrations of oxybenzone around coral reefs popular with tourists, particularly those in Hawaii and the Caribbean.Downs, of the non-profit scientific organization Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia, said the study helped explain why scientists aren't seeing baby corals in many established reefs in resort areas.

Oxybenzone alters coral DNA, makes coral more susceptible to potentially fatal bleaching and acts as an endocrine disruptor, causing baby coral to encase itself in its own skeleton and die, according to the findings.

Between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotion winds up in coral reef areas each year, much of which containing oxybenzone.

The damaging effects were seen in coral in concentrations of oxybenzone as low as 62 parts per trillion, which is equivalent to a drop of water in six and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to the researchers.

In Hawaii and the Caribbean, concentrations were 12 times higher, according to the sea water testing.

Outside of coral toxins, the Environmental Working Group had previously raised concerns about the chemical, saying that it may penetrate the skin and cause hormonal and cellular changes.

The American Academy of Dermatology, says there is no data showing oxybenzone is a health hazard and notes that it is one of the few ingredients in sunscreen that effectively protects skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreen Ingredient Toxic to Coral, Killing Off Reefs, Researchers Say

A common ingredient found in sunscreen is toxic to coral and contributing to the decline of reefs around the world, according to new research.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 10:38 AM

2015-10-22T10:38:05-04:00

Interesting article. Time to change the recipe.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 12:22 PM

2015-10-22T12:22:22-04:00

My skin is more important, but if there are viable alternatives they should be explored.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 22 at 2015 12:28 PM

2015-10-22T12:28:39-04:00

MSgt Curtis Ellis I have not been to the beach for a couple decades based on pre-skin cancer diagnosis 20 years ago so I may be an anomaly.
I suppose if the chemical which is included in sunscreen never had contact with seawater before this could be an issue.
If people are using sunscreen in areas where coral reefs are prevalent this could be an issue.
Knowing that many tests include hundreds of times more concentration than would reasonably be expected to be experienced in order to test the impact of the chemical on the environment.
The above comments were made prior to reading the article. As expected high concentrations were tested.
"Oxybenzone, a UV-filtering chemical compound found in 3,500 brands of sunscreen worldwide, can be fatal to baby coral and damaging to adults in high concentrations, according the study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology."

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 22 at 2015 12:39 PM

2015-10-22T12:39:07-04:00

Sunscreen has a negligible effect on coral reefs, compared to the much larger natural forces that are damaging coral reefs.

"Hard corals are the reef-building corals, and their stonelike structures are composed of calcium carbonate, the same substance found in the shells of many marine organisms including oysters, clams and snails. Like these mollusks, corals must have access to available calcium in the seawater in order to build their hard skeleton. This is especially important in the early stages of a coral polyps's life, when it settles onto a hard substance and starts "building" its skeleton. Some studies have shown a 52-73% decline in larval settlement on reefs that are experiencing lower pH levels. Scientists can also measure the calcification rates of hard corals, and ocean acidification has had a negative impact on the rate at which corals calcify. This means that coral colonies in the future may be more brittle and less resilient to other factors influencing their survival.

Ocean acidification is just one more threat to the success of hard corals. Coral reefs are already being affected by many other pressures, some human-related and some natural. Warming ocean temperatures are contributing to coral bleaching and making them more susceptible to diseases. Nutrient and chemical pollution coming into the oceans from rivers is also making suitable coral habitat very scarce. Natural threats impacting coral reefs include predation from urchins and a variety of fishes, and also tropical storms. Coral reefs are naturally very resilient to many of these threats, but now their ability to recolonize and grow sturdy structures is being compromised by ocean acidification. Sometimes, coral habitat is gradually being replaced by non-calcifying organisms, like seagrass, once the coral has been killed off."

http://climateinterpreter.org/content/effects-ocean-acidification-coral-reefs

The Effects of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs | Climate Interpreter

Most people are familiar with the concept that compares coral reefs to underwater rainforests.  Coral reefs form the most biodiverse habitats in the ocean, and their presence is essential to the survival of thousands of other marine species - many of which we rely on for food.