Although it’s hard to imagine during this time of the year, Imagine it’s the summertime. You’re at the beach and realize you have to protect your skin so naturally you apply sunscreen. It may seem like applying sunscreen is such a minor act that leads to no damage but simply protects your skin from harmful rays. Scientists lately have been focusing on common sunscreens and its affect on coral. This has led me to wonder, why is coral so important? What chemical found in sunscreen is killing coral and what impact will this have on society?

Coral reefs are known to be one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Coral reefs provide shelter for about 8 million species. Coral reefs play a crucial role in stimulating the economy for many islands and nations located near coral reefs through tourism and fisheries. Coral reefs provide stability in weather conditions by acting as a storm buffer and preventing any radical waves from forming (NOAA 2015). The positive affects coral reefs have on the world makes it apparent that people need to undergo any measures to preserve them. Coral reefs are crucial in society and killing them by simply using a sunscreen containing a certain chemical makes it obvious that a sunscreen containing this chemical needs to be removed from the market.
The known chemical found in most sunscreens that is harming coral is called Oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a UV-filtering chemical compound found in about 2,500 brands of sunscreen. This can be fatal to coral, especially baby coral, according to the study published by the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Oxybenzone “alters coral DNA and makes coral susceptible to potentially fatal bleaching and acts as an endocrine disruptor, causing baby coral to encase itself in its own skeleton and die” (NPR 2015). Between 6,000-14,000 tons of sunscreen lotion winds up in the coral reef area annually, having the potential to kill innocent coral. In areas where coral reefs are most prominent, such as in Hawaii and the Caribbean levels of Oxybenzone were 12 times higher.  (The Guardian 2015).

Coral bleaching, a result of oxybenzone 
On the other hand, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that “there is no data showing oxybenzone is a health hazard and notes that it is one of the few ingredients in sunscreen that effectively protects skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays (AAD 2015). This statement released by the American Academy of Dermatology doesn’t seem to be the best opinion considering there is an automatic bias since the AAD clearly works with the government and has to support the production of how sunscreen is currently produced.
Personally, I agree with Craig Downs of the Washington Post who claims that “The use of oxybenzone-containing products needs to be seriously deliberated in islands and area where coral reef conservation is a critical issue… we have lost at least 80% of the coral reefs in the Caribbean” (The Washington Post 2015).  I think the production and distribution of oxybenzone infused sunscreen should be illegal in areas where coral reefs are prominent since I believe it’s less practical to completely abolish all sales. However, I do not think sunscreen has affected the 80% loss of coral reefs in the Caribbean, there are many other environmental issues that have led to the depletion of coral such as pollution, and tourism. I do think this issue is a major issue and can completely be removed considering this chemical is not the only means to prevent sun damage. In fact, scientists have come out with a sunscreen without oxybenzone that has been proven to be equally as efficient (Badger 2015). This issue will remain controversial since the price of sunscreen will probably rise, with the common solution of oxybenzone being removed from sunscreen ingredients; however, I think an increase in price is worth it considering we will be saving the coral and preventing any further damage to society since coral has a major role in stabilizing the environment.

Oxybenzone-free sunscreen, safe for coral

Works Cited:

Chemicals In Sunscreen Are Harming Coral Reefs, Says New Study (2015, October). In National
Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/
2015/10/20/450276158/chemicals-in-sunscreen-are-harming-coral-reefs-says-new-study

Coral Reef Safe Sunscreen (2015). In Badger Healthy Body Care . Retrieved from http://
www.badgerbalm.com/s-35-coral-reef-safe-sunscreen.aspx

Fears, D. (n.d.). How we are all contributing to the destruction of coral reefs: Sunscreen Resize
Text Print Article Comments 137 By Darryl Fears October 20 A marine protected area in
Papua New Guinea. (ARC COE for Co. In The Washington Post . Retrieved from https://
www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/after-sunscreen-
protects-humans-it-massacres-coral-reefs/

Is Sunscreen Safe? (2015 ). In American Academy of Dermatology . Retrieved from https://
www.aad.org/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/prevent-skin-cancer/is-
sunscreen-safe

Sunscreen Chemical Threatens Coral Reefs (2015). In National Ocean Service . Retrieved from
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/feb14/sunscreen.html

Sunscreen contributing to decline of coral reefs, study shows (2015, October 21). In The
Guardian . Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/21/
sunscreen-contributing-to-decline-of-coral-reefs-study-shows