Treviño, J. (2018, July 16). Can We Create Sunscreen That Protects Both Humans and Coral Reefs? Retrieved July 17, 2018, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science/scientists-are-unraveling-new-dangers-sunscreen-coral-reefs-180969627/
The 2016 study by Craig Downs and colleagues from the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory led Hawaii to recently ban sunscreen containing the active ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are found in many popular sunscreen brands. The study concluded that those two chemicals slow coral growth and increase the rate of coral bleaching. However, it is debated whether the ban will help coral reefs as much as anticipated. The marine ecology researcher Cinzia Corinaldesi argues that the ingredients banned are not the only harmful ingredients and chemicals such as zinc oxide and other UV filters are harmful to coral reefs as well.
This discovery that ingredients in sunscreen are damaging to coral reefs leads to more measures that can help reduce the amount of damage done to coral reefs, such as the ban of those ingredients in Hawaii. Also, this discovery has inspired researchers such as the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida to develop an environmentally friendly sunscreen. Although the effectiveness of the ban is disputed, it sets a precedent for other areas to make laws to protect the environment and for more environmentally safe products to be developed
This is good news that sun screen breakthroughs are happening. I was in Mexico a couple years ago and they were prohibiting sunscreen in areas because of the damage to marine life… which is a little problematic for us Gringos who really need it. So, obviously reefs are being affected by more than just zinc oxide. What do you think- should sun screen be banned anyway? You know companies will push back on that, but should it matter? But if sunscreen is being produced with harmful ingredients, even with local rules, it will find its way to the water ways.
I think Hawaii banning those ingredients is a great step to help the coral reefs, but I agree that companies will push back and not want to find a new way to make their sunscreen. I think that if more people were aware of the damage certain chemicals were doing to the environment they may not want to use sunscreen that contains those chemicals. I know I wouldn’t want to be using a product that has harmful chemicals in it. If there is a large drop in sales for sunscreen containing those chemicals, companies may research new ingredients to put in sunscreen that are good for the environment and inexpensive to produce.