• Latest
  • Trending
positive news

Is Your Sunscreen Killing the Coral Reef?

July 20, 2019
Barber shop

London’s Black Barbers Tackle Poverty & Poor Mental Health

February 1, 2023
Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn

London Street Transformed into Solar Power Station by Artists

February 1, 2023
All female punk band

Discover England’s All-Female, Middle-Aged Punk Scene!

February 1, 2023
the Wicked Smaht Zone

Generous Group Leaves $4.6K Tip: ‘We were just, tears’ says waitress

February 1, 2023

Oscar (6) Climbs 12 U.K Peaks to Give Poor Kids a Vacation

January 31, 2023
Mummy

Unwrapping History: Oldest & Most Complete Egyptian Mummy Discovered!

January 31, 2023
hygroscopic mortar

Stone to Style: Zero-Waste Recycling in Mallorca Creates Amazing New Material

January 31, 2023
meteorite found in the Antarctic

Antarctica Strikes Gold with Record-Breaking Meteorite Discovery

January 30, 2023
Przewalski horse

U.S. Zoo Cheers as Rare Horse Foal Makes a Comeback from Extinction

January 30, 2023
green energy

Biggest Wealth Fund Dumps Fossil Fuel Investments for a Greener Future

January 30, 2023
Titanosaur Eggs

Egg-cellent Discovery: Indian Paleontologists Unearth 100s of Titanosaur Eggs!

January 27, 2023
The Great Bubble Barrier

The Great Bubble Barrier: A Company that Stops Plastic Waste from polluting the Ocean!

January 27, 2023
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Login
Newsum
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Inspiring
  • Travel
  • Web Stories
  • Video
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Inspiring
  • Travel
  • Web Stories
  • Video
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Newsum
No Result
View All Result

Is Your Sunscreen Killing the Coral Reef?

The sunscreen that we use to protect our skin from sun damage is actually harming the coral reefs

Aman Kumar by Aman Kumar
July 20, 2019
in Lifestyle
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
13
SHARES
129
VIEWS
Share on WhatsappShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Did you know that the seemingly harmless sunscreen that we use for protecting ourselves is actually harming the aquatic life?

If we look at the figures, 80 per cent of coral reefs in the Caribbean have been damaged since the last 50 years. The main reasons for this depletion are all due to human intervention: pollution and coastal development. Up to 14,000 metric tons of sunscreen settle on coral reefs every year and would you believe that it is about the weight of 3,000 elephants!

The chemical Benzophenone used in sunscreens hardens corals in the larval stage and closes them up in their own skeleton. This toxin also harms a microalga that is essential for the well-being of corals.

Due to an increase in coral reefs damaged, few countries like Hawaii and Palau have taken measures to protect the seabed. Hawaii is the first country to ban sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. This ban will be effective from January 1, 2021.

Following the footsteps of Hawaii, another small island, Palau also banned the selling of sunscreens that are not reef friendly. Palau is known to have the largest marine reserves across the world. 

When our sunscreen comes in contact with water, substances like oxybenzone are absorbed. These substances act as a barrier to coral reproduction and growth.

When you swim with sunscreen on, chemicals like oxybenzone can seep into the water, where they’re absorbed by corals. These substances contain nanoparticles that can disrupt coral’s reproduction and growth cycles, ultimately leading to bleaching. We do know that sunscreens help in preventing skin cancer, we can’t stop using it. But, there are ways that can help us deal with the problem of coral depletion: 

  • Using biodegradable sunscreens that also result in less pollution. Such sunscreens are reef-friendly.
  • Wearing hats, shirts, and apparels that protect you from UV rays and result in using less amount of sunscreen usage.
  • Taking an umbrella or a beach tent or picking a shady spot on the beach.

The National Park Service encourages tourists to use products that are reef-friendly. Although no sunscreen has proven to be completely reef-friendly, sunscreens that contain titanium oxide or zinc oxide have proven to be harmless for corals.

How do you plan to prepare yourself for the next beach vacation? Hope you would bear this information in mind.

Tags: coral reefsNational Park Service
Previous Post

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: England lifts first title

Next Post

Friendship quotes that will make you want to hug your bestie

Next Post
friendship quotes

Friendship quotes that will make you want to hug your bestie

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category

  • Apps
  • Business
  • Car maintenance
  • Cars
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Gadget
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • how to
  • Humor
  • Inspiring
  • Lifestyle
  • Mobile
  • Movie
  • Music
  • News
  • Others
  • Politics
  • Review
  • Science
  • Security System
  • series
  • Space
  • Sports
  • Startup
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Wildlife conservation
  • World
Newsum

#FutureOfNews

Follow & Like Us

Download Newsum App

Recent News

Barber shop

London’s Black Barbers Tackle Poverty & Poor Mental Health

February 1, 2023
Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn

London Street Transformed into Solar Power Station by Artists

February 1, 2023
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Fact Checking Policy

© 2023 SCVPL - Future of News Newsum.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Technology
  • Movie
  • Lifestyle
  • Review
  • Inspiring

© 2023 SCVPL - Future of News Newsum.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version