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The importance of reef-safe sunscreen





Not only are coral reefs one of the world’s largest pools of biodiversity, but they also protect coastlines and provide jobs for local communities. In addition, these reefs serve as homes for millions of marine organisms. About 25% of the ocean’s fish depend on coral reefs for survival (source). Unfortunately, many studies show that oxybenzone and octinoxate, two of the more widely studied chemicals in sunscreens, cause coral bleaching (source). Coral bleaching happens when environmental stressors cause the coral to expel the symbiont living in their tissues, causing the coral to turn white from lack of nutrients. Scientific evidence shows that the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene, are devastating to coral, marine life, and human health. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the ingredients in safe MINERAL sunscreens, are currently the only sunscreen ingredients deemed “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRASE) by the FDA. While banning oxybenzone-like compounds from the USVI will not “fix the coral reefs,” it is essential to make people aware that their actions or inaction affect the environment.

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