Environmental Impact of Sunscreen: Choosing Eco-Friendly Options
Summer's Finally Here! But Strap on that Eco-Friendly Sunscreen!
Get ready for some sand, surf, and searing temperatures! The summer season officially kicks off this weekend, with temperatures presumed to hit an impressive 30°C across numerous regions. But before you dive headfirst into the sunshine, let's chat about the importance of slathering on some sunscreen.
Sadly, not all sunscreens are created equal: it's crucial to make like a detective and decipher those labels to shield not only your skin but our precious environment too. Eva Iniguez, a marine biologist knee-deep in a doctorate on this very topic, sounds the alarm, "Any compound humans introduce into the environment isn't beneficial; they're all poison to some degree."
But hey, don't panic! It's not all doom and gloom. There are ways to keep our skin tangling with the sun without shattering the underwater world. First up, the nasties to avoid like the plague: oxybenzone (also known as an endocrine disruptor) and octinoxate.
These little monsters are a threat to aquatic organisms, as studies show they cause coral bleaching, which occurs when the vibrant colonies of polyps boot out the algae they live with. Carbon copies of six to 14 thousand tons of sunscreen containing between one to 10% of these harmful ingredients make a yearly splash in coral reef areas.
It's not just corals that take a hit. Research suggests that the compounds in our sunscreens can mess with aquatic organisms, affecting their reproduction, central nervous system, and liver. And it's not just the ocean's inhabitants who feel the burn. Microalgae and plankton are also casualties, disrupting the food chain, and leaving juvenile fish gasping for a bite.
But how do these pesky chemicals make their way into the water? Simple – people wearing sunscreen wash them off while swimming, and when absorbed by the skin, they exit through urine and feces, eventually being discarded by Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). However, WWTPs haven't evolved to retain these specific compounds, allowing them to flow into rivers and oceans.
Now, there's some relief on the horizon: mineral (inorganic) sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide draw fewer environmental ire compared to the chemical-based ones. However, don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. These minerals can still be picked up by microorganisms, including fish (just like microplastics). The effects aren't completely understood yet, but some scientists warn of potential long-term impacts on humans — even in future generations.
So what's the takeaway here? The use of sunscreen is indispensable, but it's crucial to make smart decisions. As much as possible, opt for eco-friendly, "reef-safe" sunscreens, which mostly rely on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to block those harmful UV rays. Brands like Sun Bum, Raw Elements, and Blue Lizard offer some excellent options. Happy sunbathing, and let's do our bit to help reduce the environmental impact of our favorite summer activity!
Embrace the summer with eco-friendly sunscreen to protect both your skin and the environment from potential harm caused by harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. Mineral-based sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are generally better for the environment, but they can still affect aquatic life if not properly disposed of. Choose reef-safe sunscreens to help minimize the environmental impact of your summer activities.
