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Woman Wearing Black and White Brassiere Sitting on White Sand
Woman Wearing Black and White Brassiere Sitting on White Sand
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Culture > News

So, Sunscreen is Killing the Coral Reefs?

Hanna Brown
KU Contributor
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KU chapter.

You finally made it to the ocean; the sun is shining down and there’s not a cloud in sight. Enjoying whatever cocktail you please on the beach. You know what they say, “good times and tan lines.” The last thing you’ll want to think about is how potentially you are contributing to the death of coral reefs.

According to National Geographic, 14,000 tons of sunscreen is washed into our oceans every year. In the last 50 years, 80% of the coral reef population has been lost due to water population, coastal developments and global warming. Our reefs are in danger. The Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii bay, U.S. Virgin Islands and Israel are some of the most vulnerable in the population.

This is caused by harmful chemicals commonly found in sunscreens. There’s a long list of chemicals that can hurt reefs, but the main two are Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. 

Walmart

So, how does sunscreen hurt our reefs? Before that, there are two ways that sunscreen can get into the ocean. One, when you shower it can enter the ocean through the waterways. Two, sunscreen can enter our oceans directly by swimming or even getting on the sand, which is washed into the ocean by the tides. The harmful chemicals in the water are then absorbed by the coral and can lead to devastating consequences. The chemicals can cause bleaching, damage the DNA (which affects reproduction) and can deform young coral.

Some places have already taken action to help prevent the reefs from dying. In Hawaii, a bill was passed making it the first state to place a ban on purchasing sunscreens containing harmful chemicals over the counter. The ban was effective January 1, 2021. Other places are close to the following suit.

Some common sunscreen brands that contain harmful chemicals are:

  • Sun Bum 

  • Neutrogena 

  • Hawaiian tropic

  • Aveeno

  • Coppertone

  • Glossier

You might be wondering what to do when sunscreen is heavily suggested by medical professionals to prevent sunburns, early aging and even skin cancer. The National Ocean Service has some tips. Use reef-safe sunscreen, seek shade, wear sunglasses, wear a sun shirt or leggings and you can even implement wearing a hat to prevent soaking in those UV rays.

Brown Frame Acrytic Sunglasses
Blush Mark

Here are a few sunscreens that are free of those harmful chemicals:

 

Our coral reefs are beautiful and are proof of how amazing Earth is and how much it has to offer. We need to do better for Mother Earth. This issue is serious, but by implementing small things, like reef-safe sunscreen, you can make a difference.

birds eye view of island
Photo by Symeon Ekizoglou from Pexels

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Hanna Brown is the writing director at the Her Campus at KU (University of Kansas) chapter. She oversees the writing team and acts as the publisher, ensuring all articles meet the Her Campus standards of quality and reverence. In addition to her duties as the publisher, Hanna leads weekly writer meetings and builds a safe environment where writers feel empowered to be creative. Beyond Her Campus, Hanna is the marketing/communication assistant for the Engineering Career Center at KU. Last summer, Hanna interned for Burns & McDonnell as a marketing writer/editor. There, she gained experience writing technical blogs centered around engineering, copy for digital marketing and new releases. She also interned for Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline in corporate communications. A senior at KU, Hanna is pursuing a BSJ in digital marketing communications, advertising and public relations with a minor in history. In her free time, Hanna loves to visit local coffee shops and explore her college town. She is obsessed with the Sims 4 and wants to start a podcast. Her motivation in life is to do everything in love. After college, Hanna hopes to move to the city and start a career in public relations, branding, digital marketing or copy/content writing.
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