http://www.care2.com/greenliving/schooled-in-sunscreen.html
Schooled in Sunscreen
Pity the poor fishes. There they are, just swimming around in the ocean minding their own business—all the while, humans are swimming around above them pointing and ogling them like they were paying for a show. It’s funny though, they don’t seem to mind. They don’t swim away from us and they don’t seem to be bothered by humans (how would we know if they were?) so I figure no harm, no foul. Right? Not so fast.
I love swimming in the ocean and I love snorkeling, but last week in Kauai I got to thinking about the pretty fish and how they felt about me and everyone else invading their turf. Turns out there is something to be concerned about: Sunscreen.
Obviously, sunscreen is a must. Especially for someone as fair as I am. But the schools of tropical fish I love so much could be in some serious trouble if swimmers don’t start thinking about what they are putting on their skin before getting into the water.
You see, there are several common ingredients in sunscreen that threaten the coral fish need to live, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
And since swimmers leave 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen in the world’s oceans, threatening about 10 percent of the world’s coral, we’ve got a problem.
So what are these problem ingredients? Paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone and a camphor derivative, according to this study.
I was extra careful to bring a paraben-free sunscreen after a recent bathroom cabinet makeover, so I chose this Aveeno Sunblock Spray. But what about that other stuff? Let’s see. Cinnamate? None. Benzophenone? Zip. Camphor derivative? Not that I can tell.
So yay! I got lucky on that one, and more importantly so did the fish! Especially considering that I went swimming three or four times every day I was there
Saving the Earth, one dip in the ocean at a time.
More on Shades of Green (13 articles available)More from Jana Ballinger (40 articles available)
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add your comment »There are so many articles regarding safety for skin and safety for the coral on this site, with varying information.
Titanium dioxide is safe for people, coral, and pets: http://www.integralsense.com/ecolani.htm
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v46aje19.htm
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I just discorvered Aubrey Organics sfp25 organic sunblock! WONDERFUL and not really any more expensive than drug store brands!
I recommend it!
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Hello everyone, wow that s really important!, I must have to confess that I never thought about the effects of sunscreens in the sealife.
But, on the other hand, the use of sunscreens in the beach is also very important. So, what kind of natural products we could use to protect us, and also to protect this animals and it´s enviroment?
Namaste,
Adrián, from Ecuador
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It's not about the fact that one person wearing a bad sunscreen directly impacts the giant ocean...it's about the CUMULATIVE effect. Think about us all as a whole - a lot of our environmental problems are caused as humans don't take personal accountability for their small actions mattering. If we each do our little parts, it really does ad up. In addition - if this is bad for fish, do you really want these chemicals on YOU?
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Thanks for the valuable info :)
~Kyle
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As those people with a measly thin coating go swimming where the sea is at her most beautiful and the fish are abundant, it could do no harm to think about it, I think. Ofcourse the mega tankers are awful but that doesn't make a difference for our own responsability. Whatever we can do whenever we can do it?
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I hardly think a measly thin coating of sunscreen on people makes a difference, when there are Whole MegaTankers full of Oil leaking many Barrels of Crude into ocean waters at all times.
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ok
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Coconut oil? Hate to break your bubble! Cocopalms are being planted in place of the jungle in Brazil and Argentina.
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When we went to Mexico last year we had to look everywhere for sunscreen that did not have these ingredients because they banned most sunscreen use at all the snorkeling attractions and nature parks!
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