Reef- and Human-Friendly Sunscreen
How does sunscreen affect coral reefs?
Coral reefs are more than just a pretty face. They support an incredible underwater ecosystem, cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support more than 25% of all marine life, and their very existence defends our coastlines against the worst effects of storms and hurricanes. Nature knows what’s up. But climate change and human impact (like overfishing and chemical runoff) have accelerated coral bleaching and mutation, ultimately leading to coral death.
Once in the water, the nano-particals in sunscreen chemicals latch onto coral and clog the pores. This prevents the coral from getting the sunlight and nutrients it needs, which can lead to coral bleaching and eventual death.
Several studies have shown that the most common chemical, oxybenzone, actually damages the DNA of young coral reefs and disrupts their normal growth and development. This inhibits coral’s ability to reproduce healthily and causes physical deformities that make them even more susceptible to coral bleaching. Chemical-based sunscreens have been found to cause viral infection and starvation in corals, and can be equally toxic to other marine wildlife.
Harmful chemicals in conventional sunscreen enter the ocean when vacationers, swimmers, surfers, etc. use a toxic sunscreen on their body and get in the ocean. Even if you don’t go directly in the ocean, sunscreen lotion will eventually be washed off your body and end up in the ocean. These chemicals are very tenacious.
And if you thought you were very different than coral reefs, think again.
After you slather yourself head to toe, your skin begins to absorb chemicals from sunscreen. These chemicals can be measured in the body through blood, breast milk and urine samples. Even the FDA has found that some of these toxic ingredients enter the bloodstream at levels far beyond the recommended FDA-established threshold.
The only way to really know is to read the labels and look for the toxic ingredients. The compounds in these ingredients, preservatives and additives are toxic to humans and coral reefs:
AVOID THESE
The Awful Eight
Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, PABA (Para Aminobenzoic Acid), Enzacamene, Octisalate, Homosalate, Avobenzone
Preservatives & Additives
Methyl Paraben, Ethyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Butyl Paraben, Benzyl Paraben, Phthalates, Triclosan, Microbeads (plastic), Phenoxyethanol
Look for unscented, oxybenzone-free, mineral-based sunscreens that use raw elements instead of synthetic ones and exclude the “bad” ingredients and preservatives that disrupt human hormone function or bleach coral.
Here are the ingredients you want to see in your sunscreen:
LOOK FOR THESE
Zinc Oxide – Zinc oxide is derived from the mineral zinc. It’s able to block UV (especially UVA) rays just as effectively as any of the Awful Eight. Because it’s mineral-based, it won’t seep into your skin to risk your health, is less harmful to coral, and is not known to cause coral bleaching.
Titanium Dioxide – Like zinc oxide, sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide are mineral-based. Titanium dioxide is a great alternative to oxybenzone and octinoxate. It provides effective protection against UV rays (especially UVB). Sunscreens created with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can offer broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
Reef Friendly Sunscreen Criteria
Most of the chemicals that are harmful to marine life are just as damaging to human health. Reef-friendly means environmentally safe, nontoxic, kid friendly and human safe. It means safe for people and safe for critical marine organisms like the coral reef. Reef friendly criteria is pretty simple: A sunscreen cannot contain any of the ingredients from “The Awful Eight.”
When you do right by your body, you do right by the ocean (and vice versa). Join surfers, kayakers, canoers, explorers, divers, swimmers, conservationists and ocean lovers in enjoying our ocean and making sure we protect it from toxic chemicals. Pledging to take care of yourself and the environment by buying reef friendly sunscreen lotion and cosmetic products, like the ones here at All Good Products.
