8/6/2023 0 Comments Hawaiian reef safe sunscreenThe ban of certain sunscreens in Hawaii along with the new research showing the harmful impacts of current sunscreen products on corals is leading companies to develop new sunscreen products. * It is important to note that you should use mineral sunblocks that are “non-nano” in size, because mineral sunblocks that have particle size below 100 nanometers can be ingested by corals.Īs a consumer you should also try to stay up-to-date with the latest developments related to sunscreen research. Physical sunscreens (also known as mineral or inorganic sunblocks): Products that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and are considered “safe” for use around coral reefs.* There is some new evidence suggesting that titanium dioxide may be safer for corals than zinc oxide.Chemical sunscreens: Products that frequently contain the absorbable and coral harming ingredients mentioned above.When you do need to use sunscreen, or for areas that can’t be effectively covered with clothing, be aware that there are two types of sunscreen to choose from: Rash guards, dive skins, and wetsuits reduce the need for sunscreen altogether. Clothing is considered as effective as sunscreen on the parts of the body it covers. Some companies also rate their clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor, or UPF, similar to sunscreens’ SPF numbers. Wearing rash guards, dive skins and wetsuits, as well as using hats, sunglasses, and sun Buffs will all help to reduce the amount of area of your body you need to apply sunscreen to, and thus reduce the amount of sunscreen you need to apply. The best thing that snorkelers and divers can do is to first reduce their need to use sunscreen by covering up. Snorkelers and divers should take measures to reduce their risk, and sunscreen does serve as an important tool in that effort. Reef Safe Sun Protection: Our Recommendationsįirst, it is important to acknowledge that protecting yourself from ultraviolet solar radiation, a well-known risk factor for skin cancer is very important. To begin to answer this, we’ve put together the following recommendations for reef-safe sun protection, as part of our larger effort to build ocean-friendly behaviors- Blue Habits-among nature travelers. So the question most of us will want to know the answer to is: “What can I do?” While the recent bans of certain sunscreens in Hawaii and in other places are a step in the right direction, and will help reduce the prevalence of “non-coral friendly” sunscreens in areas with high volumes of tourism, this alone is not enough. © The Ocean AgencyĪs snorkelers, divers, and part of the community of people who wish to protect coral reefs, we need to educate ourselves about all the ways in which we can reduce our impact on these diverse and productive ecosystems. Here is a vetted list of all of the known pollutants that may be in your sunscreens and other skin/hair care products that should be avoided.Ĭhemicals in sunscreen make corals more susceptible to bleaching. While oxybenzone and octinoxate are the most well-studied culprits, new research is finding that other chemicals in sunscreens may also be harmful to coral reefs, in particular octocrylene, 4-MBC, benzophenone-3, methoxycinnamate and butylparaben. In fact, some experts believe that the wash-off of these chemicals during showering and swimming plays a bigger role than climate change in damaging coral reefs. All products containing these chemicals, not just sunscreens, should be avoided when you are near marine environments. Beyond sunscreen, these ingredients are found in lipsticks, moisturizers, and other cosmetics, and they are readily absorbed into the blood (and subsequently found in human urine). Since that initial study, many more studies have followed and have identified two chemicals found in sunscreens that cause direct harm to corals: oxybenzone and octinoxate. At the same time, ocean and coastal tourism is growing, and it is estimated that more than a billion people worldwide will be visiting oceans for recreation and tourism by 2020.īe a part of the global movement to improve ocean health. Scientists estimate that between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen-the equivalent of 25 to 60 million bottles-wash off of snorkelers and swimmers into coral reef environments each year. © Grant ThomasĬoncern about the impact of sunscreen on coral reefs has been growing since 2008 when the first study was published showing a direct link between coral mortality and ingredients found in sunscreens, especially in areas with high levels of tourism. Coral reefs in areas of high tourism are at greater risk from harmful sunscreens.
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