Is sunscreen worth it?
Summer is filled with so many great things. We go to the beach, admire the glint of the water at the ocean or a lake, and soak in the suns rays. Of course, for our safety, we also slather on lots of sunscreen. The smell of sunscreen is a reminder of summer, and it's important to avoid skin cancer, but are sunscreens worth the environmental impact?
Not so safe sunscreen
It turns out, sunscreen has a negative impact on the world's oceans. The main ingredient in most sunscreens is oxybenzone. It is effective at filtering out UV light, but at the detriment to coral reefs and other marine life.
In an interview with the Guardian, Craig Downs, P.h.D. , and one of the authors of the paper on oxybenzone said, “[Oxybenzone] causes weird deformities in soft tissue and also causes the coral larvae to encase itself in its own skeleton, in its own coffin.”
This can cause the death of a whole coral reef, as hundreds or thousands of tourists wash off this toxic chemical onto the reef unwittingly.
The solution
Fortunately, “reef safe” sunscreen is available, if not well known. Reef safe sunscreen is made without oxybenzone, using ingredients such as chelated zinc to protect your skin without causing harm to coral reefs.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers will label their sunscreens as reef safe while still having this dangerous chemical in it. Research your sunscreen before using it to make sure it doesn't contain this chemical, and treat “Reef safe” claims on the label the same way you would a vague declaration on a processed food saying it is “healthy.”
By careful research, you can still enjoy the beach without getting a burn, and help slow coral bleaching events. Marine life is depending on your help, and this is a great way to give it to them.
https://www.smartertravel.com/what-sunscreen-does-to-the-environment/
