http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/23/coral-reefs-sunscreen.html

Man, this just plain sucks

Quote :

"May 23, 2008 -- Sunscreen lotions used by beach-going tourists worldwide are a major cause of coral bleaching, according to a new study commissioned by the European Commission. In experiments, the cream-based ultra-violet (UV) filters -- used to protect skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure -- caused bleaching of coral reefs even in small quantities, the study found. Coral reefs are among the most biologically productive and diverse of ecosystems, and directly sustain half a billion people. But some 60 percent of these reef systems are threatened by a deadly combination of climate change, industrial pollution and excess UV radiation. The new study, published in U.S. journal Environmental Health Perspectives, has now added sun screens to the list of damaging agents, and estimates that up to 10 percent of the world's reefs are at risk of sunscreen-induced coral bleaching. Chemical compounds in sunscreen and other personal skin care products have been detected near both sea and freshwater tourist areas. Previous research has shown that these chemicals can accumulate in aquatic animals, and biodegrade into toxic by-products. Researchers led by Roberto Danovaro at the University of Pisa in Italy added controlled amounts of three brands of sunscreen to seawater surrounding coral reefs in Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand and Egypt. Even small doses provoked large discharges of coral mucous -- a clear sign of environmental stress -- within 18 to 48 hours. Within 96 hours complete bleaching of corals had occurred. Virus levels in seawater surrounding coral branches increased to 15 times the level found in control samples, suggesting that sunscreens might stimulate latent viral infections, the study found. Pesticides, hydrocarbons and other contaminants have also been found to induce algae or coral to release viruses, hastening the bleaching process. According to the World Trade Organization, around 10 per cent of tourism takes place in tropical areas, with 78 million tourists visiting coral reefs each year. An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen are released annually in reef areas, with 25 percent of the sunscreen ingredients on skin released into water over the course of a 20-minute submersion. Sunscreens are made of around 20 compounds acting as UV filters and preservatives. Seven were tested for the study, including parabens, cinnamates, benzophenones and camphor derivatives."

5/25/2008 8:21:27 AM

WHY CAN WE NOT HAVE ANYTHING GOOD?

5/25/2008 9:07:42 AM

peeing in the ocean is even WORSE than sunscreen when it comes to stressing out the Coral Reefs!!!

5/25/2008 11:19:55 AM

^then where are the fish supposed to use the bathroom?

5/25/2008 11:21:42 AM

Quote :

"But some 60 percent of these reef systems are threatened by a deadly combination of climate change, industrial pollution and excess UV radiation."

Seems a little SPF 30 would help them.

5/25/2008 11:26:28 AM

wow, didn't expect that.

it figures in the tropical areas where there are coral reefs and tons of tourists, the sun would be most intense too.

5/25/2008 11:34:42 AM

duh. you can get reef safe sunscreen, btw.

5/25/2008 11:38:02 AM

since when and what kind? didn't know that.

5/25/2008 11:48:09 AM

google environmentally safe sunscreen, reef safe sunscreen, etc.

Normally when you go snorkelling, etc at a reef they give you the reef-safe kind for free to make sure you use it.

5/25/2008 12:23:22 PM

i know once when i was snorkeling in mexico i felt really really really bad, and i still feel guilty to this day, but i had to pee SO BAD like SOOOOO bad it hurt and i felt like i would throw up if i didn't go. so i tried to swim away from the coral reef and go. oopsy

5/25/2008 12:51:09 PM

bear grylls squeezed sunscreen out of a coral reef and rubbed it on himself on the last episode of man vs wild

5/25/2008 3:01:33 PM

Quote :

"google environmentally safe sunscreen, reef safe sunscreen, etc. Normally when you go snorkelling, etc at a reef they give you the reef-safe kind for free to make sure you use it."

What countries?

5/25/2008 6:51:43 PM

both times for me were in Cancun.

5/26/2008 7:26:07 PM

I hope these toxins don't accumulate in us...or at least aren't that big of a deal to us??

5/26/2008 7:29:29 PM

they do. as good as parsol 1789 is, it's not that good for you over time.

5/26/2008 10:36:32 PM

so what kind of sunscreen are we supposed to use. for ourselves and the coral reefs?

5/26/2008 11:14:08 PM

i stopped peeing in the ocean after i saw this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candiru

5/27/2008 12:12:34 AM

^ um the ocean is not freshwater

5/27/2008 12:43:08 AM

yes and its also not the amazon river, but i don't want to be the guy who finds the salt water version of that fish

5/27/2008 1:02:40 AM

Quote :

"^then where are the fish supposed to use the bathroom?"

Human pee and fish pee are completely different...just like bird pee is.

5/27/2008 10:42:34 AM

Quote :

"bear grylls squeezed sunscreen out of a coral reef and rubbed it on himself on the last episode of man vs wild"

Yeah...He was like "I got that SPF 50 now!!!"

5/27/2008 11:30:09 AM

I for one am glad I've never used sunscreen a day in my life. I am not contributing to the bleaching and destruction of our environment.

5/27/2008 12:43:50 PM

yea but what about skin cancer?? i mean which is worse here. and no one answered my question!!! what sunscreens are safe for humans and the environment

5/27/2008 1:12:41 PM

^ omfg. google is your friend. Do a little research... dannydigtl told even told you how to look it up.. >_<

Anyways:
"Our last trip to Xel-Ha we purchased "Environmentally SAFE Sunscreen" SPF 30 recommended by Xe-Ha and Xcaret it says on the label. Orders 1-800-432-6723
Fax 407-226-8828
WWW.cpskincare.com
If I recall it was about $8. It is a 2 oz. container."



[Edited on May 27, 2008 at 2:48 PM. Reason : oops ]

5/27/2008 2:43:42 PM

Pristine Planet http://www.pristineplanet.com/biodegradable-organic-sunblock-natural-non-toxic-eco-friendly/sunscreen/1314_a_0.html

there you can price compare eco-friendly sun screens

or google 'eco-friendly sun screen'. There are a list of things that it needs to be 'free' of so that it doesn't hurt reefs


also, this forum had a decent/enlightening thread w/ good links.

http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/tm.asp?m=330133


^^ however many...

whatever brand you would probably recognize (No-Ad, banana boat, etc) is not going to be something 'reef-safe' most likely. Thats why people are saying you're going to have to google it to find something to buy over the internet. From what i've found, many of the 'well-known' brands have 'biodegradeable' sunscreen that a lot of people think is reef safe or eco-friendly, and it's better than their regular stuff, but it's still harmful to the reefs.

check out the above links.

[Edited on May 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM. Reason : ^^^]

[Edited on May 27, 2008 at 2:48 PM. Reason : deleting ^ thingys]

5/27/2008 2:44:42 PM

^^why is it that I need to do research through google to figure out that I don't use sunscreen?

[Edited on May 27, 2008 at 2:45 PM. Reason : ^]

5/27/2008 2:45:25 PM

I have no idea wtf you are talking about I appologize, I grew an extra carrot in mah garden

[Edited on May 27, 2008 at 2:49 PM. Reason : .]

5/27/2008 2:49:15 PM

^haha...thats what I thought but then I wasn't sure

5/27/2008 2:56:35 PM