Why Use Reef Safe Sunscreen

Sunscreens are well known to protect our skin from UV radiation which causes premature ageing, sunspots and skin cancers.

However, not all sunscreens are created equal.

The majority of sunscreens commonly found on shelves of our local supermarkets contain chemicals that are incredibly toxic to people and  marine life alike.

Depending on active ingredients that are used to prevent UV rays from penetrating your skin,  sunscreens are divided into 2 types:

• Physical(Mineral) – blockers reflect UV rays and contain one of two active ingredients – zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• Chemical blockers – contain chemical ingredients that absorb UV rays and contain one or more of the following: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate or octinoxate.

While there is overwhelming evidence that sunscreens protect against skin cancer, questions have been raised about safety of active ingredients in chemical sunscreen that used to be considered safe before.

Sun-care products’ effects on the environment have also been a major topic of discussion in recent years.  Following are 10 active ingredients commonly found in chemical sunscreens. They are well known environmental pollutants and have been associated with damaging coral reefs and sensitive marine ecosystem:

• Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)
• Ethyl paraben
• Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate)
• Butyl paraben
• Octocrylene
• 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor
• Benzyl paraben
• Triclosan
• Methyl paraben
• Phenoxyethanol

Why Active Sunscreen Chemicals Are Bad for Humans ?

Case against chemical sunscreens is still ongoing, however, numerous new studies keep raising concerns about :

• Hormone disrupting effects. These changes may contribute to downstream maternal and fetal health outcomes (2018) as well as impair fertility in men. (2018 ) 
• Affects on embryonic nerve cells and the developing mammalian brain. (2021)
• Absorption into skin, blood stream and breast milk.  (2022; 2021)
• Exposure to BPs and parabens may be associated with impairment in child cognitive abilities. (2019) 
• Skin allergies – can exacerbate acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. (2017 )

How do these ingredients harm corals?

Sunscreen Pollution has become a symptom of unsustainable tourism.  14,000 tons of sunscreen enter waterways each year (2019) . It can reduce the resiliency of sensitive marine ecosystems to climate change factors and prevent the recovery of degrading wildlife and habitats. Many places in the world that are popular among tourists are seeing rapid destruction of their wildlife and environment. 

Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, and 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor are all Sun Protection Factor (SPF) chemicals which are used in sunscreen lotions to protect our skin against the damaging effects of UV light of the sun. They are believed to make corals more susceptible to bleaching.

Oxybenxone alone has been proven over and over to be highly toxic to marine life and corals in particular. It causes corals to become more susceptible to bleaching at lower temperatures. Moreover, it damages coral’s DNA, deforms and kills juvenile coral. (2016; 2018)

The four parabens (Ethyl paraben, Butyl paraben, Benzyl paraben, Methyl paraben), triclosan, and phenoxyethanol are antimicrobial preservatives commonly used in sunscreens lotions and personal-care products like shampoos, moisturisers, liquid soaps, and hair conditioners. They have been shown in the scientific literature to act as endocrine disruptors interfering with sex hormones during early and reproductive stages of development of species.

Triclosan, just like oxybenzone, is incredibly toxic to algae. Its pollution could affect feeding grounds for juvenile green sea turtles, as well as possibly induce coral bleaching.

Why Care?

Coral reefs are a critical component of our environment, supporting as many as 1 million species of fish, invertebrates, and algae. In an unfortunate event of mass coral bleaching reefs should normally be able to bounce back after disturbances within several years. However, in many parts of the world where tourists prevail that has not been happening.

Learn more why corals are so important and why should we care

Who Has Banned Sunscreens ?

Number of governments around the world willing to go extra mile to protect their Coral Reefs and UNESCO World Heritage sites from the tourist industry is growing.

• Pacific island of Palau is the first country in the world that has banned all active sunscreen ingredients and preservatives known or suspected to be reef-toxic.
• Dutch Caribean island of Bonaire  – banned oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens.
• Aruba, Caribbean – banned sunscreen with the “toxic 3 Os”: octinoxate, oxybenzone, and octocrylene
• The  US state of Hawaii  – banned oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens.
• U.S. Virgin Islands – banned sunscreen with the “toxic 3 Os”: octinoxate, oxybenzone, and octocrylene
• Key West, Florida, U.S. –   – banned oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens.
• Mexico – has banned sunscreen in nature reserves. Hotspots like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Cozumel permit only reef-friendly sunscreens to the areas.
• Thailand – bans coral damaging sunscreens in marine parks containing Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3), Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnarate), 4-Methylbenzylid Camphor (4MBC) and Butylparaben.

How to Pick a Good and Safe Sunscreen?

While looking for a sunscreen you want something that :

• Provides adequate, broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection.
• Avoid sunscreens that contain endocrine disrupting chemichals.
• Avoid spray sunscreens as they pose serious inhalation risks
• Biodegradable

While looking for information about safe sunscreens I came across U.S. based health organization that rates sunscreens based on concerns about the listed ingredients’ toxicity. Check them out !

Bottom Line

With the known effects of UV radiation on our health – photoprotection is paramount. However, we must also take into account the impact sunscreen use has on our health and the environment. 

With only 2.5% of the world’s coral reefs being protected, coral reefs worldwide are facing intense degradation due to human activity, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change.

Although UV filter pollution may be just one of the many environmental factors impacting coral health worldwide, it is important we start questioning environmental safety of sunscreen products.

While banning harmful ingredients in sunscreens is an effective first step, there is only so much the law makers can do. No one person, group or country can solve the threats facing our oceans alone. It is time for all of us to become part of the solution to protect the wildlife we love and share.