Sunscreen Kills Coral Reefs

Oxybenzone, a commonly found ingredient in sunscreen, is the culprit behind the decline of global coral reefs, according to a new study.

The chemical is said to be toxic to coral and is found in 3,500 brands of sunscreen globally, The Guardian reported.

The study was published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology on Tuesday and revealed that the chemical kills baby coral and damages the adult coral when it is highly concentrated. The lead author of the study Craig Downs said that the highest amount of the toxic chemical was found in touristic hot spots such as Hawaii and the Caribbean.

The experts said it is estimated that 6,000-14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in areas with coral reefs. When baby coral are exposed to the toxin, it damages their DNA and induces hormonal balance, which causes coral to encase themselves in their own skeleton and eventually die, The Guardian reported.

Another worrisome revelation from the study is that even only a small amount of the toxin, roughly equivalent to a drop of water in 3 Olympic-sized pools, could harm the coral reef. The study also noted that the amount of the toxin found in Hawaii and the Caribbean were 12 times higher than the world average.

Previously, Environmental Working Group had expressed concerns about the potential harmful effects of oxybenzone in humans, not just coral reefs. The group said that the toxin could get into the body through the skin and then cause changes in hormones and cells, the very mechanism that kills coral reefs. But the American Academy of Dermatology claims that there is no proof present pointing oxybenzone as a health hazard and it was also noted that said chemicals is among the few ingredients that can protect skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, reported The Guardian.