Our world’s oceans are in grave danger. The marine ecosystem is constantly being endangered by human actions. The pH of the ocean is lowering, the beaches are filled to the brim with garbage, and certain species are dying out. You may not know this, but the coral reefs are in danger as well. In a process called “bleaching”, sunscreen washes off human’s bodies and coats the coral. This causes the algae to explode, and release viruses into the water thus affecting other coral organisms in the vicinity. “Bleaching” occurs quickly, ranging from a few hours to a few days, until the coral is destroyed forever.
Most notably, The Great Barrier Reef is suffering from this problem. The reef is slowly dying off as the sunscreen “bleaches” the coral and kills it. The four harmful chemicals that cause “bleaching” are paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and camphor; they are found in conventional sunscreens we use to protect our skin. One way to combat this issue is to use biodegradable sunscreens that do not contain these chemicals. This sunscreen will both block the harmful UV sun rays from damaging your skin while also not harming the coral reefs when it washes off your body.
Using biodegradable sunscreen is a simple solution to a very widespread and complex problem. You can make a difference; educate your community about this problem and how we can easily help mitigate the damage. There is still time to correct our mistakes, to fix all the damage we have caused the environment. We want our future generations to see The Great Barrier Reef in its splendid beauty and magnificence, not as a dead “bleached” reef. By doing something as easy as buying biodegradable sunscreen without the four harmful chemicals stated above, we can start to take the first steps to healing and protecting the ocean’s coral reefs.
Jacquot, J. (2008, January 24). Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses. Treehugger. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/sunscreens-promote-coral-bleaching-by-stimulating-viruses.html.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Solutions
Some prevention techniques exist that minimize the effects of coral bleaching. One of these is to use specific types of sunscreen. One type that should be used is “water resistant” sunscreen, to prevent the sunscreen from washing off skin into the water. Biodegradable sunscreen should be used as well. Although this is not guaranteed “reef safe”, the sunscreen will break down over time. Most importantly, all types of sunscreen should be checked that is does not contain the 4 harmful chemicals that destroy the reefs: paraben, cinnamate, benzopheone, and camphor.
Spreading information about this catastrophic issue is also of the utmost importance. Getting the word out to people is integral to the problem being stopped. People should be more aware of the high amount of coral being bleached and how it affects them. By becoming knowledgeable about this environmental issue, people can take steps such as checking the type of sunscreen they use to contribute to stopping the bleaching. Although some prevention techniques have been explored to stop coral bleaching, there is still much research that will and can be done for the future.
Spreading information about this catastrophic issue is also of the utmost importance. Getting the word out to people is integral to the problem being stopped. People should be more aware of the high amount of coral being bleached and how it affects them. By becoming knowledgeable about this environmental issue, people can take steps such as checking the type of sunscreen they use to contribute to stopping the bleaching. Although some prevention techniques have been explored to stop coral bleaching, there is still much research that will and can be done for the future.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Graphic of Causes
This picture shows how the zooxanthellae is expelled from the healthy coral when the sunscreen from swimmers bleaches the coral.
Than, K. (2008, January 29). Swimmers sunscreen killing off coral. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html.
Causes
Causes
Coral reefs are one of the most integral components of the success of the marine ecosystem. They are large limestone structures that are located in oceans all around the world. They provide shelter, food, and protein for millions of diverse marine organisms. Additionally, medical benefits have been discovered to be linked to coral reefs, such as evidence that has been found that coral reefs remove carbon dioxide from the air. However, coral reefs are being destroyed at a very fast rate. A contributing factor to the destruction of coral reefs is from four harmful chemicals that bleach the coral; about 10% of the world’s coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen induced coral bleaching. The most disturbing part of this news is that these chemicals are being transferred to coral reefs from human activity by applying sunscreen to our bodies.
Within sunscreen, there are 4 harmful chemicals which cause bleach the coral reefs. These chemicals are paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and camphor. The sunscreen washes off the swimmers bodies when they enter the ocean, and makes its way towards the coral reefs. The process of bleaching starts as soon as the chemicals interact with the coral. A vast amount of sunscreen washes into the ocean annually, about 4,000-6,000 metric tons. Additionally, 25% of sunscreen applied runs into the water within 20 minutes, so even if you go into the water for a brief period of time there is a chance that it will wash off.
These chemicals damage various components of the coral reef such as algae (for example: zooexanthellae) which lives in the coral tissue and provides nutrients to the coral through photosynthesis. The chemicals cause viruses within the coral to replicate and eventually cause the algae to explode. After they explode, the viruses then spill into the ocean water and affect other coral organisms. A chain reaction of destruction is created from only a small amount of sunscreen when it comes in contact with the reefs, only about 10uL is needed. These disastrous effects develop quickly, ranging from a few hours to a few days, until the coral is destroyed forever.
Badger Balm. (2012). Coral Reef Safe Sunscreens and Badger. Retrieved from http://www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreens.aspx.
Bird, K. (2008). Sunscreens harm coral reefs, say scientists. Cosmetics, Retrieved from http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Sunscreens-harm-coral-reefs-say-scientists.
Jacquot, J. (2008, January 24). Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses. Treehugger. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/sunscreens-promote-coral-bleaching-by-stimulating-viruses.html.
Than, K. (2008, January 29). Swimmers sunscreen killing off coral. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html.
Tibbetts, J. (2008). Bleached, but not by the sun: Sunscreen linked to coral damage.
Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291012/.
(2006). Coral reefs: There's still hope, but only just. Mother Jones, Retrieved from http://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/coral-reefs-theres-still-hope-only-just.
Coral reefs are one of the most integral components of the success of the marine ecosystem. They are large limestone structures that are located in oceans all around the world. They provide shelter, food, and protein for millions of diverse marine organisms. Additionally, medical benefits have been discovered to be linked to coral reefs, such as evidence that has been found that coral reefs remove carbon dioxide from the air. However, coral reefs are being destroyed at a very fast rate. A contributing factor to the destruction of coral reefs is from four harmful chemicals that bleach the coral; about 10% of the world’s coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen induced coral bleaching. The most disturbing part of this news is that these chemicals are being transferred to coral reefs from human activity by applying sunscreen to our bodies.
Within sunscreen, there are 4 harmful chemicals which cause bleach the coral reefs. These chemicals are paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and camphor. The sunscreen washes off the swimmers bodies when they enter the ocean, and makes its way towards the coral reefs. The process of bleaching starts as soon as the chemicals interact with the coral. A vast amount of sunscreen washes into the ocean annually, about 4,000-6,000 metric tons. Additionally, 25% of sunscreen applied runs into the water within 20 minutes, so even if you go into the water for a brief period of time there is a chance that it will wash off.
These chemicals damage various components of the coral reef such as algae (for example: zooexanthellae) which lives in the coral tissue and provides nutrients to the coral through photosynthesis. The chemicals cause viruses within the coral to replicate and eventually cause the algae to explode. After they explode, the viruses then spill into the ocean water and affect other coral organisms. A chain reaction of destruction is created from only a small amount of sunscreen when it comes in contact with the reefs, only about 10uL is needed. These disastrous effects develop quickly, ranging from a few hours to a few days, until the coral is destroyed forever.
Badger Balm. (2012). Coral Reef Safe Sunscreens and Badger. Retrieved from http://www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreens.aspx.
Bird, K. (2008). Sunscreens harm coral reefs, say scientists. Cosmetics, Retrieved from http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Sunscreens-harm-coral-reefs-say-scientists.
Jacquot, J. (2008, January 24). Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses. Treehugger. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/sunscreens-promote-coral-bleaching-by-stimulating-viruses.html.
Than, K. (2008, January 29). Swimmers sunscreen killing off coral. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html.
Tibbetts, J. (2008). Bleached, but not by the sun: Sunscreen linked to coral damage.
Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291012/.
(2006). Coral reefs: There's still hope, but only just. Mother Jones, Retrieved from http://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/coral-reefs-theres-still-hope-only-just.
Research
Coral Reefs Bleached By Sunscreen
Tibbetts, J. (2008). Bleached, but not by the sun: Sunscreen linked to coral damage.
Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291012/.
Info about Coral Reefs
- Most diverse ecosystems in the world
- Biologically productive
- Provides food protein for billions of people
What is being damaged in the coral reefs?
- Zooxanthellae
- Algae that lives in the coral tissue
- It provides nutrients to the coral through photosynthesis
- When the zooxanthellae leaves the color in the reefs is diminished
What in sunscreen is killing he coral reefs?
- Paraben
- Cinnamate- UV filters
- Benzophenone- UV filters
- Camphor- UV filters
How long does it take to occur?
- Within a few hours
- Always within four days
- In amounts as small as 10uL/L
Where is the sunscreen coming from?
- Swimmers in the ocean
Jacquot, J. (2008, January 24). Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses. Treehugger. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/sunscreens-promote-coral-bleaching-by-stimulating-viruses.html.
- 4,000-6,000 metric tons of sunscreen that wash off on an annual basis.
(2006). Coral reefs: There's still hope, but only just. Mother Jones, Retrieved from http://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/coral-reefs-theres-still-hope-only-just.
Why coral reefs are so important?
They are massive structure made of limestone, that contain many organisms that each day are being researched and have been found to contain things that are helpful to the medical field. Vaccines…etc They remove carbon dioxide from the air
What organisms live in coral reefs?
Many do. It’s a diverse community
How to prevent harming the reefs?
- where sunscreen that does not have the harmful chemicals (biodegradable)
• Do not touch the coral reefs
• Inform others about this problem
• Keep trash out of the ocean
McLendon, R. (2010, November 15). What's killing all the coral? Mother Nature Network. Retrieved from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/whats-killing-all-the-coral.
Sunscreen hurting coral reefs- 4000 to 6000 tons of sunscreen washed into the ocean per year
Reed, J. (2003). What is Biodegradable Sunscreen? WiseGeek. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-biodegradable-sunscreen.htm.
How to be sure that the sunscreen you are using is biodegradable
Check that is contains zinc or titanium oxide and other natural chemicals
Image of what is going on to coral reef
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Retrieved from http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/corals/6a.html.
Than, K. (2008, January 29). Swimmers sunscreen killing off coral. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html.
-four common parts of sunscreen have been found to reactivate former viruses in coral reef species
-the chemicals in sunscreen cause the viruses to replicate, eventually causing the algae to explode
-the viruses then spill into the ocean water and come into contact with other coral organisms
-4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers
-even low levels of sunscreen could bleach the coral in 4 days
-a very small dose of sunscreen is as dangerous as a high amount of exposure
-to reduce swimmers effects of coral reefs they should use sunscreens with physical filters, which reflect instead of absorb ultraviolet radiation; and use eco-friendly chemical sunscreens.Use sunscreens with physical filters, which reflect instead of absorb ultraviolet radiation; and use eco-friendly chemical sunscreens.
Badger Balm. (2012). Coral Reef Safe Sunscreens and Badger. Retrieved from http://www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreens.aspx.
Four common sunscreen ingredients were shown to cause complete coral bleaching within a few days, even at very low concentrations (33 parts per million). They are:
• Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) – Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects.
• Butylparaben - Preservative with several suspected human health effects.
• Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) - Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects.
• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) - Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects. Allowed in Europe and Canada, not in USA or Japan.
Up to 10% of the world's coral reefs may be threatened by sunscreen induced coral bleaching.
Bird, K. (2008). Sunscreens harm coral reefs, say scientists. Cosmetics, Retrieved from http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Sunscreens-harm-coral-reefs-say-scientists.
-25 percent of sunscreen applied runs into the water within 20 minutes
Telegraph.co.uk . (2008). Tourist sunscreen ‘killing off coral reefs’. eTurboNews, Retrieved from http://www.eturbonews.com/1414/tourist-sunscreen-‘killing-coral-reefs’.
-tourists who wear sunscreen may be contributing the death of the Great Barrier Reef
-10% of coral reefs are threatened by bleaching caused by chemicals found in sunscreen
-a quarter of coral reefs are in immediate danger of collapsing due to human effects
What can you do to ensure that your sunscreen is safe for the marine environment and coral reefs?
• Use a sunscreen that does not have the ingredients shown to damage coral.
• Use a sunscreen that is 'water resistant' or 'very water resistant'. This helps it to stay on your body and out of the water.
• Use a sunscreen that has been tested biodegradable. Although this indicates that the product will break down over time, it does not, on its own, make a sunscreen 'reef safe'. Sunscreens biodegrade over a period of 60-90 days, whereas the Danovaro study showed complete coral bleaching in just a few days. Furthermore, this claim is largely under-regulated, so you may need to contact the company to verify.
• 'Reef Safe' claims on sunscreen labels are unregulated and therefore potentially meaningless. You really have to look at the ingredients, consider the science, and judge for yourself.
Note: There is actually a "Reef Safe" test that can be performed on sunscreens, and we looked into it, but they test on fish, not on coral. We chose to forego this test because it does not study the effects on coral.
Tibbetts, J. (2008). Bleached, but not by the sun: Sunscreen linked to coral damage.
Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291012/.
Info about Coral Reefs
- Most diverse ecosystems in the world
- Biologically productive
- Provides food protein for billions of people
What is being damaged in the coral reefs?
- Zooxanthellae
- Algae that lives in the coral tissue
- It provides nutrients to the coral through photosynthesis
- When the zooxanthellae leaves the color in the reefs is diminished
What in sunscreen is killing he coral reefs?
- Paraben
- Cinnamate- UV filters
- Benzophenone- UV filters
- Camphor- UV filters
How long does it take to occur?
- Within a few hours
- Always within four days
- In amounts as small as 10uL/L
Where is the sunscreen coming from?
- Swimmers in the ocean
Jacquot, J. (2008, January 24). Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses. Treehugger. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/sunscreens-promote-coral-bleaching-by-stimulating-viruses.html.
- 4,000-6,000 metric tons of sunscreen that wash off on an annual basis.
(2006). Coral reefs: There's still hope, but only just. Mother Jones, Retrieved from http://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/coral-reefs-theres-still-hope-only-just.
Why coral reefs are so important?
They are massive structure made of limestone, that contain many organisms that each day are being researched and have been found to contain things that are helpful to the medical field. Vaccines…etc They remove carbon dioxide from the air
What organisms live in coral reefs?
Many do. It’s a diverse community
How to prevent harming the reefs?
- where sunscreen that does not have the harmful chemicals (biodegradable)
• Do not touch the coral reefs
• Inform others about this problem
• Keep trash out of the ocean
McLendon, R. (2010, November 15). What's killing all the coral? Mother Nature Network. Retrieved from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/whats-killing-all-the-coral.
Sunscreen hurting coral reefs- 4000 to 6000 tons of sunscreen washed into the ocean per year
Reed, J. (2003). What is Biodegradable Sunscreen? WiseGeek. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-biodegradable-sunscreen.htm.
How to be sure that the sunscreen you are using is biodegradable
Check that is contains zinc or titanium oxide and other natural chemicals
Image of what is going on to coral reef
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Retrieved from http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/corals/6a.html.
Than, K. (2008, January 29). Swimmers sunscreen killing off coral. National Geographic. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html.
-four common parts of sunscreen have been found to reactivate former viruses in coral reef species
-the chemicals in sunscreen cause the viruses to replicate, eventually causing the algae to explode
-the viruses then spill into the ocean water and come into contact with other coral organisms
-4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers
-even low levels of sunscreen could bleach the coral in 4 days
-a very small dose of sunscreen is as dangerous as a high amount of exposure
-to reduce swimmers effects of coral reefs they should use sunscreens with physical filters, which reflect instead of absorb ultraviolet radiation; and use eco-friendly chemical sunscreens.Use sunscreens with physical filters, which reflect instead of absorb ultraviolet radiation; and use eco-friendly chemical sunscreens.
Badger Balm. (2012). Coral Reef Safe Sunscreens and Badger. Retrieved from http://www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreens.aspx.
Four common sunscreen ingredients were shown to cause complete coral bleaching within a few days, even at very low concentrations (33 parts per million). They are:
• Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) – Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects.
• Butylparaben - Preservative with several suspected human health effects.
• Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) - Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects.
• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) - Sunscreen with several suspected human health effects. Allowed in Europe and Canada, not in USA or Japan.
Up to 10% of the world's coral reefs may be threatened by sunscreen induced coral bleaching.
Bird, K. (2008). Sunscreens harm coral reefs, say scientists. Cosmetics, Retrieved from http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Sunscreens-harm-coral-reefs-say-scientists.
-25 percent of sunscreen applied runs into the water within 20 minutes
Telegraph.co.uk . (2008). Tourist sunscreen ‘killing off coral reefs’. eTurboNews, Retrieved from http://www.eturbonews.com/1414/tourist-sunscreen-‘killing-coral-reefs’.
-tourists who wear sunscreen may be contributing the death of the Great Barrier Reef
-10% of coral reefs are threatened by bleaching caused by chemicals found in sunscreen
-a quarter of coral reefs are in immediate danger of collapsing due to human effects
What can you do to ensure that your sunscreen is safe for the marine environment and coral reefs?
• Use a sunscreen that does not have the ingredients shown to damage coral.
• Use a sunscreen that is 'water resistant' or 'very water resistant'. This helps it to stay on your body and out of the water.
• Use a sunscreen that has been tested biodegradable. Although this indicates that the product will break down over time, it does not, on its own, make a sunscreen 'reef safe'. Sunscreens biodegrade over a period of 60-90 days, whereas the Danovaro study showed complete coral bleaching in just a few days. Furthermore, this claim is largely under-regulated, so you may need to contact the company to verify.
• 'Reef Safe' claims on sunscreen labels are unregulated and therefore potentially meaningless. You really have to look at the ingredients, consider the science, and judge for yourself.
Note: There is actually a "Reef Safe" test that can be performed on sunscreens, and we looked into it, but they test on fish, not on coral. We chose to forego this test because it does not study the effects on coral.
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