The Importance of Reef Safe Sunscreen
Youth Environmental Alliance- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Nicole Castilla
Coral reefs are some of the most dynamic parts of our ocean ecosystems. Not only are they beautiful, but coral reefs also provide homes for 25% of species of fish and marine life. They are also important in protecting coastal neighborhoods against hurricanes since they help break wave energy up to 97%, saving Americans an estimated $825 million in coastal infrastructure, according to NOAA! Besides being an integral part of our oceans, coral reefs are also beneficial to the environment as a whole as they help combat climate change by absorbing 70 to 90 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. However, with all that said, coral reefs are also very delicate animals (yes, corals are animals!) and one of their biggest threats is climate change. In Florida alone, which is home to the third largest coral reef in the world, only 2% of corals are still alive. Many researchers and nonprofit organizations like Youth Environmental Alliance are doing their part to help conserve Florida’s coral reefs. While scientists are working hard to help the critically endangered coral reefs, YOU can also make a difference! One simple way you can do this is by checking the labels on your sunscreen and opting for those that are reef safe!
There are hundreds of different kinds and brands of sunscreen out there, but did you know some can actually greatly damage the ocean’s reefs (and you too)? Many brands of sunscreen contain harmful chemicals and ingredients that are toxic to both the ocean and humans. Although some sunscreens are labeled as “reef friendly,” that does not always equate to being reef safe. The only way to truly know if a sunscreen is in fact reef safe is by looking at the active ingredients list, which can usually be found on the back of the bottle.
The presence of chemicals such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate, octinoxate, and nano zinc, which are commonly found in mainstream sunscreen brands, are dangerous for coral reefs and the ocean as a whole. These chemicals can potentially trigger ocean acidification and coral bleaching, which can lead to the coral’s symbiotic algae, called zooxanthellae, becoming unable to photosynthesize. Since the sunscreen blocks the ability of the zooxanthellae to receive sun, the coral therefore starves . Coral bleaching happens when the mutualistic zooxanthellae that help feed the coral during photosynthesis, leave the coral because the coral is stressed. This does not necessarily kill coral immediately, but it can cause corals to become sick and potentially lead to death through starvation.
In order for sunscreen to be considered reef safe, it must contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (or both) or be 100% mineral based. If you look at the ingredients list and you find other ingredients that are not what was mentioned above, then it is not one that you want to use! A good rule of thumb is to remember that “if the ingredients start with a ‘T’ or a ‘Z,’ or if it is 100% mineral based, then it is reef safe." Research has shown that not only are other ingredients such as harsh chemicals detrimental to the reefs, but they can actually stay in your system for up to seven years! The sunscreen with these chemicals is absorbed by the skin, which then enters into the bloodstream, and this can happen quickly–it only takes one application of sunscreen for this to happen!
In Hawaii, it is actually illegal to use any sunscreen that contains oxybenzone and octinoxate due to the damaging impact those ingredients have on the reefs. Other places around the world, such as Key West, have followed suit and established chemical sunscreen bans in an environmentally conscious effort to protect the coral reef ecosystems.
When choosing your sunscreen, think of the environment and keep the coral reefs in mind. By choosing sunscreen that is safe for the reefs, you are making a wave of change and saving the ocean.
Check out some of our favorite reef safe sunscreens below!
References:
https://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/news/featuredstories/may20/welcome.html#:~:text=Healthy%20coral%20reefs%20can%20absorb,storm%2Drelated%20flooding%20every%20year.
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