Sunscreen Kills Coral Reefs.

Hawaii recently became the first state to ban certain sunscreen. Specifically ones that use oxybenzone (BP-3) or octinoxate. Two products known to be in over 3,500 skin care products. Honestly it’s quite the surprise they’re just now figuring this out. For years we have lathered up our skin with a high quality SPF right before we set out to enjoy the water. Only to watch that lotion beautifully release that kaleidoscope of colors when the oil reacts with the water as it slowly dissipates into the sea. No wonder the reefs are dying off, that’s just one person, times that by hundreds of millions and you certainly have a ecological disaster a foot.

On top of that what harmful effect could these skincare products have upon us. Sure we don’t have the same biological make up as coral but if our lotion can kill young coral what can it do to the young skin cells we have in our bodies. Are we willingly applying toxic chemicals to our own skin to prevent the suns rays from penetrating? I know these chemicals beat the hell out of skin cancer so sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

I imagine the rest of the world will follow suit with Hawaii and Australia working towards preventing these chemicals from hitting our water ways sooner than later. I’m sure the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because it’s a pretty major industry and that money buys time. What should we use instead? Well you can always go the old fashioned way and keep your sun exposure brief or scientist say you can use a mineral based sunscreens that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide not sure the research behind those and what effect it has on our ecosystem but currently that is apparently is the best skin care solution for the coral reefs. So get out and enjoy that weather just try to do it without BP-3 chemicals.



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