Does sunscreen really harm coral reefs?

Common chemicals used in thousands of products to protect against harmful effects of ultraviolet light threaten corals and other marine life. Scientists have also discovered that some of the chemicals found in sunscreen and other personal health products threaten the health of coral reefs.

Do I need to wear reef-safe sunscreen?

Reef-safe sunscreen is, first and foremost, safe-to-body & safe-to-planet. Toxic sunscreens aren’t just harmful to our ocean ecosystems – the ingredients are also toxic to our human bodies, especially if we’re exposed from a young age throughout our lives.

How do you know if sunscreen is reef-safe?

When you’re shopping for sunscreen, here are some key things to look for: The absence of oxybenzone and octinoxate in listed ingredients. These two chemicals are harmful to corals and can cause sunscreen-induced coral bleaching, so look for them in the ingredient list. Their absence points the product being reef-safe.

What sunscreen ingredient is bad for coral?

oxybenzone
Of particular concern to scientists was oxybenzone, a chemical used in sunscreens to protect our skin from damaging UV light. Oxybenzone is bad news for corals, harming them by; Increasing a coral’s susceptibility to bleaching. Damaging coral DNA which interferes with reproduction.

What brands of sunscreen are reef-safe?

What Are the Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens?

• Stream2Sea Sport Sunscreen. BEST WATER-RESISTANT SUNCREEN.
• Supergoop!
• Badger Clear Zinc SPF 40.
• Countersun Daily Sheer Defense.
• All Good Sport Sunscreen.
• Raw Love All Natural Mineral Sunscreen.
• Suntegrity Skincare Natural Mineral Body Sunscreen.
• Kokua Sun Care Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50.

Is Neutrogena sunscreen coral safe?

This is one of the popular Neutrogena sunscreen products. And it’s made from one of the “alternative” sunscreen ingredients of zinc oxide… So that means it must be reef-safe… In the case of this Neutrogena sheer zinc sunscreen, it does NOT contain oxybenzone OR octinoxate.

What brands of sunscreen are reef safe?

Is Neutrogena sunscreen Coral safe?

Which sunscreens are not reef-safe?

Avoid sunscreens with high content of Titanium Dioxide. This mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide which is harmful to all sea life. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, the two chemicals recently banned in Hawaii and are believed to cause coral bleaching.