Research Paper on Coral Bleaching Due to Sunscreen Pollution

“T̈hey estimated that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen is deposited in the world’s oceans each year.” (Glusac, 2018) As people use more sunscreen, it harms the reefs, killing marine life and affecting the ocean negatively. There are many scientists working on solving this and there are solutions being found. Coral bleaching has become a national problem due to increased use of sunscreen from tourists and runoff as well as the toxic ingredients, resulting in viral infections in coral reefs, coral reproduction issues, and a deadly hard shell forming around the coral; however, there are many ways to solve this problem. 

Causes

There are several ways in which sunscreen causes coral bleaching and how it reaches the ocean. “An international team of scientists, including researchers from the United States and Israel, found the highest concentrations of oxybenzone near coral reefs at popular beaches, including in Hawaii and the Caribbean” (Why Sunscreen May be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015). These locations with high tourism are found to have one of the toxic ingredients in sunscreen, oxybenzone. One of the reasons that this is found to be a problem, is because there are coral reefs nearby, and when tourists use the sunscreen and go into the water, it washes off and reaches the coral. Due to increased tourism, and more sunscreen being used, this results in damaging the ocean system (Danavoro, et. al., 2008). The chemicals are released and there have been negative consequences, mostly in highly concentrated beach areas (Danavoro, et. al., 2008). These highly concentrated areas are suffering from the sunscreen and chemicals such as the oxybenzone. Not only is it harming the coral reefs, but also the whole ocean system which is increasingly concerning.

One of the ways in which sunscreen chemicals reach the ocean is through runoff. 

“Chemicals in sunscreen that come off while swimming or travel through sewage systems when washed off in the shower are ''bigger than climate change,'' in causing coral reef damage, according to Craig Downs, the executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory based in Clifford, Va., which has studied the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs” (Glusac, 2018).

There are ways of sunscreen chemicals reaching the ocean that are not very apparent and many people do not realize they are participating in. When people will shower, the sunscreen washes off and goes down the drain into the sewage system. This runoff can eventually reach the ocean and cause great damage to the coral reefs. 

The UV filters are one of the main ingredients in sunscreen which is devastatingly harming the reef. 

“Turns out that a 2008 study by Italian scientists found that UV filters in sunscreens causes coral bleaching. (This is an unfortunate ecological coincidence, as one of the original compounds for sunscreen was synthesised from an Australian coral reef.) According to researchers, 10,000 tonnes of UV filters are produced every year, about 10% of which are used by the 78 million tourists visiting sensitive coral areas” (“Observer Magazine: Life & style: Ethical living: Dilemma: Which sunblock protects my skin - and the sea?: With UV filters damaging coral reefs, some beaches are now banning sun cream. Lucy Siegle has an old-fashioned solution,” 2009).

This research and data gives insight to how much sunscreen is being used every year compared to how much of it is from tourists. The study pinpointed that it is the UV filters leading to coral bleaching. This ingredient is found in every sunscreen and it is important for consumers to understand this negative effect it has when purchasing sunscreen.

Effects

Coral Reefs are very important in the ocean ecosystem and since humans aren’t taking care of them, it is negatively affecting the environment. “A 2008 European study published by Environmental Health Perspectives concluded that sunscreen promotes viral infection in corals that can lead to bleaching” (Glusac, 2018). These viral infections are more commonly seen in areas with higher sunscreen usage. As a result of the viral infections, this is very harmful to the populations of organisms living in the reef. The bleaching is when the reefs lose all of their color and no longer can support life for the ecosystem. Therefore, if sunscreen usage was decreased, the viral infections would be decreased, leading to a decrease of coral bleaching. 

When coral reefs are at a stage in which they are unable to reproduce due to being harmed, the coral population decreases. A study found that oxybenzone is one of the ingredients that is damaging the coral (Why Sunscreen May Be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015). This includes the coral not being able to reproduce as well, leading the population to decline (Why Sunscreen May Be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015). When the coral is being harmed by sunscreen and bleaching, it makes it unable to reproduce and for there to be more coral which is a big problem considering the population. When the coral population decreases this doesn’t only affect the underwater ecosystem but also us, as stated: “Sunscreen pollution doesn't kill all the world's coral reefs. It threatens coral reefs that are most important to people” (Fulton, 2018). People all around the world use the reefs for sources of food and when they pollute it with sunscreen, not only are they harming the coral, but eventually it will make its way back to the seafood market. 

Finally, sunscreen usage and coral bleaching is leading the coral to form a hard shell around it. There is research proving this by saying: “The ingredient can also prompt the coral to develop a hard coating and effectively encase itself in its skeleton and die” (“Why Sunscreen May Be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015). When the coral puts itself in this hard coating, it is like its skeleton, causing it to die. This is similar to what happens when the water temperature gets too high and also causes the coral to do this (“Why Sunscreen May Be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015).

Legal Solutions

Many organizations and locations are making efforts to prevent coral bleaching as a result of sunscreen usage. Biodegradable sunscreen is commonly seen in locations with large sunscreen usage. Tourism companies are making it easy to access as shown “The company's website states that, ''Big Blue will ONLY ALLOW the use of 100 percent biodegradable sunscreen on all of our trips. Non-biodegradable sunscreen IS NOT TO BE USED on Big Blue trips.” (Glusac, 2018). By enforcing this rule, it is requiring the use of only biodegradable sunscreen to help decrease the amount of harmful chemicals being washed off into the ocean. Hawaii islands have recognized that this is a problem and as a solution, they inform tourists about this and provide biodegradable sunscreen (Glusac, 2018). Just by Hawaii educating the public about this problem, it will greatly help because many people do not know about this problem and how negatively it is affecting the reefs.

Another solution is to find other alternatives. “Wearing sun-protecting clothing, including long-sleeves, hats, and rash guards in the water, can also reduce the risk of harm to coral, the researchers say (“Why Sunscreen May Be Killing Coral Reefs,” 2015). Wearing clothing to cover your skin instead of using sunscreen will help the coral long term. There are many different options to cover your skin that are healthier for the environment. The FDA has made a list of sunscreen that is harmful for the coral reefs (Fulton, 2018). They also made a list of ingredients that are approved (Fulton, 2018). Mineral-based sunscreens are also a great option that don’t include any harmful ingredients (Fulton, 2018). The FDA has put research into this to positively help our environment and to educate people on the harmful ingredients. It also shows that there are several sunscreen options that do include these ingredients, which many people are blinded to. 

Conclusion

Coral bleaching has been seen worldwide due to tourism, and runoff which is greatly harming the reef, and many citizens are working to solve this problem. Increased tourism, runoff, and the toxic sunscreen ingredients are major causes of coral bleaching. There are viral coral infections and decreased coral reef population as a result of the causes. Worldwide, there are efforts to reduce coral bleaching such as biodegradable sunscreen, and limiting sunscreen usage. There needs to be a decrease in sunscreen toxins and people can change this by using biodegradable sunscreen and covering up using rashguards. 

References

Danovaro, R., Bongiorni, L., Corinaldesi, C., Giovannelli, D., Damiani, E., Astolfi, P., Greci, L., & Pusceddu, A. (2008). Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(4), 441+.

Fulton, A. (2018). Many common sunscreens may harm coral. here's what to use instead. In Morning edition.

Glusac, E. (2018, February 25). Protecting coral reefs from the effects of sunscreen. The New York Times, 2(L).

Observer magazine: Life & style: Ethical living: Dilemma: Which sunblock protects my skin - and the sea?: With UV filters damaging coral reefs, some beaches are now banning sun cream. lucy siegle has an old-fashioned solution. (2009, July 26). The Observer (London, England), 57.

Why sunscreen may be killing coral reefs. (2015, October 21). The Christian Science Monitor.