Sunscreen or Climate Change? What`s the greatest threat to coral reefs?

When I was scrolling through a WhatsApp group, I was suddenly drawn to one of the viral forwards suggesting that sunscreen/lotion causes the death of coral reefs. The video associated with the claim depicts bikini-clad women applying sunscreen to their skin on the beach.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp post is below.

Can the sunscreen on swimmers’ bodies at the beach create so much havoc and contribute majorly to the breaching of coral reefs, as social media suggest? So, we decided to find out the facts behind this.

Global Climate Change- Main Threat for Coral Reefs

According to the National Ocean Service of the United States, Climate change is the most significant global threat to coral reef ecosystems.

According to their findings, temperatures rise, mass coral bleaching events, and infectious disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent due to global climate change. Additionally, carbon dioxide- the main greenhouse gas which contributes mainly to global warming-related climate change – absorbed into the ocean from the atmosphere has already begun to reduce calcification rates in reef-building and reef-associated organisms by altering seawater chemistry through decreases in pH. This process is called ocean acidification.

Climate change will affect coral reef ecosystems through sea level rise, changes to the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, and altered ocean circulation patterns. Combined, these impacts dramatically vary ecosystem function and the goods and services coral reef ecosystems provide to people around the globe. The article of the National Ocean Service can be read here. Archived.

Other Threats

Excluding global climate change, there are some other reasons which destroy coral reefs. Those reasons are pollution, Increased Sedimentation, Toxic Chemicals, Marine Debris, Destructive Fishing Practices, Irresponsible Tourism, Coral Mining, etc., which can be considered as some other causes contributing to the destruction of coral reefs. Many details about this can be read here. Archived.

As we mentioned above, sunscreen /body lotions can be considered as the one element which comes under toxic chemicals and harmfully affects the well-being of the coral reefs. There are some recent scientific findings and ongoing experiments related to sunscreens/body lotions and how those things are contributing to the destruction/dying of coral reefs.

Also Read: The Great Barrier Reef has NOT died due to Climate Change! Find out the facts…

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a combination of oils, water, and ultraviolet filters. The ratio between these ingredients relies on the producer`s recipe and the amount of ultraviolet protection, the solar protection factor. Unfortunately, more than 1,300 different products containing more than 850 contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals end up in the water directly, for example, during swimming, or indirectly, after washing the sunscreen off in the shower. As a negative consequence, sea areas with more recreational activities, such as swimming, diving, and surfing, have higher levels of harmful chemicals. Details about this can be read here. Archived.

Let`s find out how sunscreen can harm the coral reefs and the severity of the harm….

Awareness of the impacts that some sunscreens can have on coral reefs has been on the rise in recent years. But while scientists knew that chemicals like oxybenzone were causing problems, they weren’t exactly sure why or how. Finally, a group of environmental chemists and biologists has come up with an explanation due to recent research (Research done in 2022).

The scientists started their research because they wanted to know if the chemicals in “reef-safe” sunscreens were safer for corals than oxybenzone. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sunscreens can wash off human skin as we swim or shower; sunscreen may accumulate on corals. There, the chemicals can trigger bleaching events or damage DNA. The new research found that corals absorb oxybenzone and convert it into phytotoxins. These molecules become harmful when exposed to sunlight. The article written by two scientists in this recent research on the Scientist web can be read here Archived.

According to research done in 2015, up to 14,000 tons of sun lotion is washed from the skin of swimmers and divers around the world’s coral reefs yearly. A few countries initiated actions a few years ago to protect vital tourist industries. For example, Mexico allows only “biodegradable” sunscreen in some of its premier marine parks. However, lawmakers in Europe and Hawaii pushed for more sweeping bans. An article published on the web by United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) about the issue can be read here. Archived.

And also, heavy metals included as ingredients of the sunscreens, Titanium, and Zinc related compounds can damage the coral reefs and rich biodiversity. More details can be taken from here. Archived.

If someone asks whether sunscreen can harm the coral reefs…the answer should be yes. But, it`s worth noting that sunscreen is not the leading cause of the deterioration of coral reefs. Climate change and its consequences are the main threat to the coral reef ecosystems. And there are many other contributing factors to the decline of coral reefs. Sunscreen issue is one of them. So, the sunscreen issue should be addressed. But exaggerating the sunscreen/lotion can cause one to forget the significant contributing factors.

Also Read Half of Earth’s Coral Reefs facing serious Climate Change threat!