![]() What ingredient in sunscreen is bad for reefs? That's why scientists are exploring how much additional factors, such as sunscreen filters, play a role in their decline. Plus, through fishing, diving and snorkeling, reefs add hundreds of millions of dollars to local economies around the world. These coral structures are very precious as they grow ever so slowly - rates can vary widely between 0.3 cm/year to 10 cm/year - and they protect the coastlines from storms and erosion. Corals are in a global crisis due, in part, to natural factors such as diseases, predators, storms, industrial pollution and unsustainable fishing practices, coupled with rising ocean temperatures and increased ocean acidification due to climate change. Nicole Crane, marine biologist and executive director of One People One Reef Project, at a recent seminar hosted by the Society of Cosmetics Chemists NYC chapter. Why is this important? " Coral reefs represent less than 0.15% of the ocean yet they house more than 2 5% of all marine species - including thousands of fish and plants," said Dr. Changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, light or nutrients can stress to reefs, leading to them expel their colorful algae and turn white: If the stress persists, it can lead to death of the coral and disrupt the ecosystem that depends on it. The recent emphasis on "reef-safe" sunscreen is spurred by damage to coral reefs (the so-called rainforests of the sea) which are made of limestone deposited by coral polyps over thousands of years. While not all scientists agreed on the effects of sunscreen being the dominant effect in coral reef damage, the marketplace saw an influx of sunscreen product launches claiming to be “reef-safe.” Most "reef-safe" formulas in the market use mineral sunscreen actives zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and have eliminated not only the two chemical sunscreen actives banned in Hawaii, but all chemical UV filters approved by the FDA. benzophenone-3) and octinoxate could slow growth of a coral species, and demonstrated that oxybenzone was also toxic to six other coral species in lab tests. This ban came on the heels of research out of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia that suggested oxybenzone (a.k.a. In 2018, Hawaii passed legislature banning sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and/or octinoxate. ![]() Where did the need for "reef-safe" sunscreen come from? But the term is tricky - both in what it implies, and how it's regulated. Sunscreen actives reach the ocean by direct release when we are swimming in the water but also can find their way by storm and waste waters that are fed by the drainage of pools and showers. ![]() "Reef-safe" and "reef/ocean-friendly" claims imply that the actives used in that particular product are better for the well-being of the reefs and other aquatic life in the ocean. "Reef-safe” or “reef-friendly” claims have been popping up with mass and indie brands alike. In addition to the FDA-regulated attributes such as broad-spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays), water-resistance (up to 40 or 80 minutes) and SPF rating (at least SPF 30, please!), there is no shortage of marketing jargon to sift through. Even with all the advice at our fingertips, the process can be still overwhelming. But deciding which sunscreen to wear can require some research. ![]() Slathering on sunscreen whenever you’re spending time al fresco should be a no-brainer - even when it’s cloudy - to protect against skin damage and cancers. ![]()
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