Over the last decade, scientific studies have shed light on the toxic effects that many widely-used sunscreen ingredients can have on coral reefs. To date, this research has focused mostly on how chemical UV filters, such as oxybenzone, can lead to coral bleaching and disrupt coral reproduction. As a result, some countries have banned these ingredients. But scientists caution that there is still a lot we don’t know.
Many products using mineral rather than chemical filters are now marketed as ‘reef-friendly’, but these alternative ingredients haven’t undergone proper scrutiny, and the wider impacts of sunscreen components on marine and freshwater environments are still largely unknown.
Read more:
- Can coral reefs recover from bleaching?
- How deep can coral live?
- How does suncream protect you from sunburn?
- Are synthetic chemicals really bad for you?
Asked by: Chris Langham, Harrow
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- This article first appeared in issue 373 of BBC Science Focus Magazine – find out how to subscribe here