Sunscreen & coral reefs

Interesting info about the impact of sunscreens, specifically ones with oxybenzone, on marine life including coral reefs:
http://marine-conservation.tum.....oral-reefs

9 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Wow we are killing our planet. I wonder what there is that we can do to sustain it. Thank you for sharing

9 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Definitely good information for being in the ocean, I'd heard that before, and checking all of my sunscreens they have oxybenzone -- so I'd need to get the right product before a trip...

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Oh no I just happened to buy two tubes of Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch sunscreen (spf 55 and 70) earlier today and both contain oxybenzone 6 percent. I don't live near the ocean (I live in the desert) and don't plan on getting in the ocean any time soon. I will definitely keep it in mind if I go to Hawaii or other coastal/island places.

9 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Interesting. I am possibly allergic to oxybenzone (it's either that or avobenzone, but I don't really want to do an elimination test to figure out which so I just avoid both) so I tend to choose primarily mineral based sunscreens anyway.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Yeah not a good combo. Sadly, what we also overlook/can't deal with is run off from the trash...all our medications and potions that we toss and pour down the drain.

On a positive note, I heard tho on the radio a beer brewing company has come up with a seaweed derived holder for six packs to replace the penguin stranglers. Fish can eat them and they biodegrade.

9 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Sigh. Giant sigh.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I don't know what was in the sunscreen we used for our recent trip to Cozumel. I'll have to go home and check. My DD went snorkeling, and my DH went snorkeling and diving.

9 years ago

Meredith

Veteran

We stayed at an eco resort in Mexico last summer that had very strict sunscreen rules. Unfortunately the biodegradable sunscreen we purchased locally was not effective and we had terrible sunburns after the first day. I think it would be best to test the more earth friendly sunscreens at home before any trips.

9 years ago

Anonymous

You have a point there, Meredith. I bought some all-natural sunscreen for my DD and I, but it wasn't effective, and we got more sun than we bargained for even though we kept reapplying it. We're very lucky we didn't burn. We used a CVS brand the rest of the time, and I bought some Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50 at the resort when we realized we needed something a lot better. The Neutrogena I used on my face was okay, but better after I applied the Jane Iredale powder sunscreen (not inexpensive, but well worth it).

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

When I went to Hawaii I wore a rash guard while in the water. It was very effective protection against the sun. It was surprising, a week in Hawaii and I didn't get sunburned at all!

Consumer Reports recently mentioned ineffective sunscreens, including one from CVS. One of theirs they said was SPF50 tested to be only SPF8.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/201.....-boat-cvs/

9 years ago