Hawaiian tropic reef safe7/28/2023 benzophenone-3) and octinoxate could slow growth of a coral species, and demonstrated that oxybenzone was also toxic to six other coral species in lab tests. This ban came on the heels of research out of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia that suggested oxybenzone (a.k.a. ![]() In 2018, Hawaii passed legislature banning sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and/or octinoxate. ![]() Where did the need for "reef-safe" sunscreen come from? But the term is tricky - both in what it implies, and how it's regulated. Sunscreen actives reach the ocean by direct release when we are swimming in the water but also can find their way by storm and waste waters that are fed by the drainage of pools and showers. "Reef-safe" and "reef/ocean-friendly" claims imply that the actives used in that particular product are better for the well-being of the reefs and other aquatic life in the ocean. "Reef-safe” or “reef-friendly” claims have been popping up with mass and indie brands alike. In addition to the FDA-regulated attributes such as broad-spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays), water-resistance (up to 40 or 80 minutes) and SPF rating (at least SPF 30, please!), there is no shortage of marketing jargon to sift through. Even with all the advice at our fingertips, the process can be still overwhelming. But deciding which sunscreen to wear can require some research. Each one uses mineral blockers to provide SPF 30 or more (the minimum amount recommend by dermatologists) and is water-resistant too.Slathering on sunscreen whenever you’re spending time al fresco should be a no-brainer - even when it’s cloudy - to protect against skin damage and cancers. And because I know you don't have time to read every ingredient label you come across, I came up with this convenient list of the 12 best reef-safe sunscreens to try this summer. The term "reef-safe" isn’t actually regulated, so you can’t just assume any old sunscreen bottle with those words slapped on the label is actually safe for reefs (wild, I know.) That said, mineral sunscreens that use mineral or physical UV blockers, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, are considered are safer for coral reefs. How do I know if my sunscreen is reef safe? ![]() Umm, that's a lot of dead and dying coral. And not to be an alarmist or anything, but it’s estimated that up to 14,000 tons (!!!) of sunscreen with these chemicals get washed into coral reefs every year. When coral gets sick, it often turns white, or “bleaches," and then dies. Okay, so even though they may be perfectly safe for humans, certain chemicals that are commonly used in conventional sunscreen-specifically oxybenzone and octinoxate- can accumulate in coral tissue and make them sick (and yes, coral is a living thing, so it can become "sick"). And if you've ever heard of something called "reef-safe" sunscreen, this probably isn't news to you-sunscreen, while very necessary and very good for our human bodies, isn't great for the ~ocean bodies~, so let's talk about the SPFs that you should be using instead, k? What sunscreen is safe for coral reefs? Yup, I'm talking about the sunscreen that you (hopefully?) slather on your face body while spending the day at the beach or swimming in the ocean. And while a lot of that has to do with climate change and rising ocean temps, some of the damage also has to do with sunscreen. ICYMI, our coral reefs are in a not-so-great place right now-as in, they're dying at an alarmingly fast rate.
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