Sunscreen & Coral Reefs

What reminds you of a beach holiday? The hot sun, sand in between your toes and the smell of sunscreen would whisk you away to any beach you imagine. However, a good habit could be harming coral reefs without us knowing.

Certain ingredients in sunscreen such as oxybenzone, an organic compound that absorbs UV-A ultraviolet rays can disrupt coral reproduction and growth cycles which then leads to coral bleaching. Although coral bleaching may sound like no big deal, this in turn disrupts the development of fish and other wildlife that are dependent on coral for food and also housing.

Ways that these ingredients end up in the sea include swimming in the sea after applying sunscreen and also aerosol sunscreen. Aerosol sunscreen is convenient and dries quickly which is why it is so popular with beach goers. However, when you spray sunscreen onto your skin, a lot of the product will end up on the sand and this then gets washed out into our oceans.

In addition to this, oxybenzone is a chemical filter which could cause skin reactions for those with sensitive skin.

Hope on the horizon

Although it sounds quite dire, it is very possible to help underwater ecosystems. Hawaii has passed a bill that bans the sale of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, a chemical filter that absorbs UV-B rays. This is after a 2015 study that showed that chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate are causes of coral bleaching.

Another piece of happy news is that the small island of Palau has also banned the sale and use of sunscreens that could harm coral reefs. This is great news because Palau is a beautiful archipelago with one of the largest marine reserves on the planet. Bravo!

Now, it might seem like you have to eschew wearing sunscreen at all but this is not the message we are projecting. Instead, choose your sunscreen wisely. And yes, this also applies to wearing sunscreen in your daily life because when you wash it off, it will somehow end up in the sea and harm coral reefs.

Choose physical sunscreens or mineral-based ones that use physical filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. This is because the particles of these filters are too large to be absorbed by coral. If you’d like a guide to environmentally safe sunscreen, check out Haereticus Environmental Lab (haereticus-lab.org).

Aqua-Aston properties in Hawaii have stepped up to the plate, offering reef-friendly sunscreen in eco-kits and also dispensers throughout the hotels. For more information or if you’d like to book a reef-friendly holiday, check out their website (www. aquaaston.com).

Get creative

We get it especially for those with finicky skin who have finally found their ‘holy grail’ sunscreen but discovered that it’s bad for the environment. Don’t worry too much because switching to physical sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide could lessen your skin’s reaction to sunscreen.

There are also other ways to add SPF into your everyday lives in addition to switching to coral safe sunscreen. Clothes with UV protection are also another way to protect your skin in the sun. Hats are also a great way to keep the sun away from your face especially if you freckle easily. Pick a shady spot to chill in at the beach or chill under a large umbrella to avoid the sun’s rays too.

References: National Geographic