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The seaside season is officially in full swing, with Americans heading to the coast for swimming, lounging, camping, partying, and, in general, cooling off in hot-weather towns. And because we have been so well trained to avoid the harmful ultraviolet rays that cause skin cancer, most beachgoers will take care to apply a generous layer of sunscreen
. The sands of California beaches, but it turns out that it is not so good for the health of the oceans when people covered with sunscreen take a refreshing dip in the waves. A study conducted by an international team of scientists found that exposure to the two most common ingredients of sunscreen – oxybenzone, or BP-3, and octinoxate – is toxic to the body. coral development in four ways. BP-3 in particular was correlated with bleaching, which is a sign of poor health, DNA damage and abnormal skeletal growth and deformities in baby corals (yes, there are coral babies )
Hawaii has taken extraordinary initiative to ban the sale of sunscreen containing these two ingredients from 2021. The ban would affect about 80% of sunscreens on store shelves [19659002]. will undoubtedly be confusing for bathers who have been warned for years to take precautions against sunburn and now they are told that every pressure of a tube of sunscreen can hurt the very ocean of which they enjoy. But let's be clear: this is not a call to skip the SPF 50. Skin cancer is a serious and too common ailment; According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a fifth of Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 70.
Nevertheless, extreme action is needed in the struggle to maintain the health of the world's coral reefs. been dying at alarming rates. Coral reefs are not only beautiful – they are vital underwater ecosystems that support such a wide diversity of species, some scientists compare them to tropical forests. The 1,200 miles of coral reefs in Hawaii have been suffering for more than a decade – a process that has accelerated in recent years, probably because of climate change.
The good news is that there are reasonable alternatives that block the sun. It is not related to the destruction of corals and does not need to stay indoors when the sun is off. Products that rely on minerals such as zinc oxide (think white film covering the nose of rescuers and surfers) to reflect the sun's harmful rays are still considered safe for the environment. And considering the demand for sunscreen, it is reasonable to rely on the personal products industry to develop new sunscreens that are not related to the destruction of corals.
This reminds us that some measures protect us against a threat may boomerang in another problem. Another example is the liberal use of antibiotics that has resulted in the emergence of "superbugs" that are impervious to most of our antibiotics that save lives.
Sunscreens are just one of many threats to the health of coral reefs. The warming of the oceans, pollution by industrial chemicals and waste play a more important role. For example, consider the approximately 8 million tons of plastic that migrate into the ocean each year. New research indicates that this plastic does not just smother whales and seabirds, it also kills corals. For example, a study of 125,000 coral reefs in the Pacific and Asia found that nearly 90% of those found with significant amounts of plastic born in the ocean were sick. Only 4% of plastic-free reefs were sick.
Hawaii is perhaps the only state in the United States to restrict some sunscreens, but its sunbathing is not the only way to introduce these pollutants into the environment. California is contributing sun protection to the bodies of all swimmers, waders, divers and surfers who enjoy 1,100 miles of coastline.
The threats to coral caused by climate change and pollution could be difficult, if not impossible, to mitigate. The threat of sunscreen is not – all that is needed, it is for consumers to change brands. There is no reason why we can not save our skin and our baby corals at the same time.
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