Annika Satoskar- Sunscreen Pollution

When at the beach, you need three things: some friends, a ball, and sunscreen. Sunscreen protects us from the sun’s harmful UV radiation. Despite our parents telling us to lather up on sunscreen before hitting the beach, sunscreen causes more damage than good. Sunscreen is a harmful pollutant to the ocean environment.
When we think of marine pollution, we imaging visible plastic garbage, fertilizer runoff, or sewage. Sadly, the extent of this pollution is far worse than the material people can see. Marine pollution goes down to the microscopic elements that affect sea life.

According to the National Park Service, more than 6000 tons of sunscreen enter reef areas each year. Sunscreen is made up of wither oxybenzone, avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or iron dioxide which could wash of into our water. Sunscreen enters oceans and aquatic environments one of two ways: washing of from recreational activities such as swimming, or indirectly from wastewater treatment plants after it has been washed of at home.
The effects of sunscreen in the water kill both fish and plants. A study done in German lakes has found that concentrations of sunscreen is higher in fish than in the actual water. This is bad because the particles of sunscreen build up inside their bodies faster than the fish can excrete. The toxins in the sunscreen will eventually cause the fish to die. Another study has also been conducted which shows that areas with higher sunscreen input, suffer from a greater amount of coral bleaching. Through all this extensive research, it is shown that the most damage occurs in heavily tourist populated areas. Sunscreens effect on marine systems is detrimental.
Sunscreen agents affect aquatic environments across the world. These agents are linked to coral bleaching and harming sea life. There are currently sunscreen products being tested that are environmentally friendly and can reduce environmental impacts. Another way is to cut back on the sunscreen. Only apply it to where your skin is exposed, or just wear sun clothes which cover more body area from the sun to reduce the amount of sunscreen used.


Questions:
What are some actions countries could take to prevent the destruction of marine tourist destination?
What can be done by tourists to reduce sunscreen pollution?
How will reducing sunscreen pollution affect marine life?
Sources:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I actually was completely unaware that sunscreen was a contributor to marine pollution. It is promising to know that environmentally friendly products are being tested, but I looked up some of these products, and they do not 100% get rid of sunscreen pollution. So, even with these new products being tested and finalized, sunscreen’s effect on marine environments will not be completley eliminated. However, as you mentioned in your post, simply covering more parts of your body with clothes can cut down on suncreen use, and when combined with more environmentally friendly sunscreen, the amount of pollution should reach a more acceptable level. National and local governments can do their part by advocating for less sunscreen use and more of other sun protection techniques, in order to better inform the public about sustainable sun protection practices.
April 4, 2019 at 6:56 AM
Anonymous said…
This was a very informative blog post. I had no idea that sunscreen was so damaging to marine environments. I think the best solution to this problem is a two-pronged system. First, the public must be educated on the dangers of sunscreen. If people are aware of the effects, they may change their ways. The second step is to invest in environmentally friendly sunscreen research to make it more accessible and affordable. Together we can help save the oceans.
April 4, 2019 at 7:06 AM
Anonymous said…
Sunscreen can leave an oily, iridescent sheen on the surfaces of ocean water which can be detrimental to coral reefs. As sunscreen levels in the water rise, they can prevent the recovery and restoration of already degraded reefs. Beyond coral reefs, sunscreen is harmful to algae, sea urchins, and fish. The most effective solution would be to ban threatening ingredients in sunscreens that way they have no way of contamination in the first place. We can also demand innovation from manufacturers to formulate products that do not contain harmful contaminants. These are the primary ways to reduce pollution altogether.
April 4, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Anonymous said…
What sucks most about this situation is that to many, sunscreen is an essential product for many. Without it, painful sunburns can cover someone’s body, and excessive sunburning can lead to skin cancer. Doing research on more environmentally friendly sunscreen products would help tremendously in the long run, but given the extent of coral bleaching that is already happening, we would need such products as soon as possible. Hopefully, the sunscreen industry will find a way to help create a better future for both nature and man.
April 5, 2019 at 6:21 AM
Anonymous said…
It never occurred to me how sunscreen could be a pollutant. With how much people would tell you that you absolutely need to put on sunscreen I figured it was safe for the water. In the past however, it was either you risk skin cancer later in life or you put sunscreen on, so the choice should be obvious there. Now, it comes at the cost of marine survivalibility, so a solution must come out now. No excuses can be used now that we know about it, and safe chemicals should begin to be used for our bodies of water.
April 5, 2019 at 6:25 AM
Anonymous said…
At this point, I wonder if humans do any good at all for our own planet as a whole. Despite the relative triviality of sunscreens, humans consistently increase the usage of sunscreens even with the numerous numbers of alternative choices that may lessen the detrimental impact of wasteful products unto our planetary environment. Simple as it is, humans immediately have to turn to viable second choices in order to reduce the pollution caused by sunscreen as a collective group.
April 5, 2019 at 6:51 AM
Anonymous said…
This was an interesting post; I had no idea that sunscreens effected marine life this way. Most of the time, we just think of sunscreen as a necessity to us humans when we head for the beach or outside, but we only consider the consequences for ourselves if we don’t apply sunscreen (bad sunburns, increased risk of cancer) rather than consequences for marine life if we do apply sunscreen. There are actually quite a few alternatives to regular sunscreen, such as mineral-based sunblock, sunscreen with larger particles, and biodegradable sunscreen, but as usual, in order for these alternatives to have an impact, we need more education. Since most don’t know about the damaging effects of sunscreens, they don’t learn that there are viable alternatives. This is yet another way we could save our marine ecosystems.
April 6, 2019 at 9:19 AM
Anonymous said…
Thank you for this post! I never realized that sunscreen had this effect on marine life. Something scary I also read was that sunscreen disables marine creatures’ embryos when they are developing, so they no defense against anything outside. I was also reading about eco-friendly sunscreens that use other active ingredients that are safe for marine life, in-like the oxybenzone and octinoxate that is used in most sunscreens. Thank you for enlightening us with this post!
April 6, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Anonymous said…
This was an interesting post on an unexpected topic! It seems like everything is a pollutant nowadays and it really makes me wonder how much can actually be done to reduce human impact on the Earth. If things as basic as sunscreen are polluting the environment, how will we be able to tackle the issue of ocean pollution if it is so widespread and results from nearly everything? One of the steps to solving this issue is definitely raising awareness. Everyone knows plastic is bad for the oceans, but no one thinks twice about sunscreen. If the public is exposed to more information about what exactly is causing pollution, we could tackle the issue at its source. Unfortunately, it will likely be a difficult matter to resolve as it is nearly impossible to get people to cut down on or eliminate such a common product, especially since most people have no idea that it is a pollutant.
April 6, 2019 at 11:28 AM
Anonymous said…
I never even thought about sunscreen becoming an environmental problem. It makes sense, though, that it’s an issue in and outside the ocean. We covered in our waste water treatment unit how some things can’t be filtered out of the water, like lotions and medication. To try and combat the problem, people should find alternative ways to combat the harmful UV rays of the sun. I can say firsthand that it’s possible to not get burned without sunscreen as I’ve been allergic to it since I was a child. If I have to stay out in the sun for long periods of time, I try to cover up my skin, wearing long sleeves and long pants. People can wear clothes that are specially made to block out UV rays or just actively try and stay in the shade while outside.
April 6, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Anonymous said…
Whenever I wear sunscreen, I never think of the harm it can do to others in our environment. After doing further research on the harm that sunscreen can produce, I found that there is between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen being washed off and then entering our coral reefs every year. The ingredient oxybenzone, which has been linked to coral bleaching, leads to reef deformity and coral death, especially in the young sea life. furthermore, oxybenzone prevents coral from reaching maturity as it can disrupt the development of coral hormones and can cause the coral reefs to produce an excess amount of calcium carbonate.
April 7, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Wow, it is interesting to learn that something that is so important to human health can be so destructive. After all, sun screen wards off nasty sunburns and protects against skin cancer; knowing this, how can we possibly help the environment while ensuring our skin is protected? Well, one of the obvious solutions is to wear longer sleeved clothing that covers more of your body. Additionally, there are numerous sunscreen brands that sell environmentally sustainable and non- toxic sunscreen. Traditional sunscreen contains oxybenzone, a chemical that can disrupt the reproductive cycle of coral, ultimately leading to coral bleaching. Because environmentally sustainable sunscreens have a lower toxicity score than traditional. ones, wearing environmentally sustainable sunscreens can really make an impact on the environment.
April 7, 2019 at 12:43 PM
Anonymous said…
It is very interesting how something that can be so beneficial to us can be so harmful to coral reefs and marine life. Sunscreen protects our skin from harmful UV radiation and prevents skin cancer and other harmful skin diseases. Yet, with the harmful effects sunscreen has on marine ecosystems, we need to look for ways to eliminate the pollutants entering water, while still protecting our skin. If there was a way to remove the harmful chemicals traditionally found in sunscreen and replace them with things that protect our skin from UV radiation, we wouldn’t have to worry about the trade-off between protecting our skin and protecting marine life.
April 7, 2019 at 6:13 PM
Anonymous said…
A interesting post considering how we are getting closer to summer! We need to think about not only ourselves but the marine life as well. I wish this was a more well known issue! But that gets me thinking as to what can be a positive change to both humans and the marine life. Maybe companies can find a more enviromentally friendly solution by using less harmful chemicals and have all sunscreens be made without toxic ingredients. I personally wear long sleeves to prevent burning since I don’t like to put it on. Maybe wearing UV resistant clothing can help us combat this issue.
April 7, 2019 at 9:35 PM
Anonymous said…
I never knew that sunscreen was such a large part of marine pollution because I have always seen it as simply a protectant against harmful UV rays. Now that the weather is starting to heat up, and summertime means going to beaches or lakes more often, we need more sunscreen to protect our skin. This means that we need to be more aware of how often and where we apply our sunscreen in order to maximize its benefit to us, but also minimize its impact on the environment.
April 8, 2019 at 9:42 PM
Anonymous said…
This looks like a problem that might not be one we can address. True, over application of sunscreen is not good for anyone, but to tell people that they should stop using sunscreen is something that sounds frankly stupid. To my knowledge there is already sunscreen available on the market that is either entirely eco-friendly or an improvement on the basic stuff. So it is good to bring this problem to light, but it is important to suggest solutions that are a little more do-able.
April 9, 2019 at 6:09 AM
Anonymous said…
It upsets me to see this, but I really don’t think I see a future in stopping my use of sunscreen. My skin is fair and I can see some Melanoma in my future if I decide to omit my use of sunscreen when I’m at the beach. I love to swim in the ocean, and it upsets me that this is an issue we have found, but I will most likely continue to be selfish and protect my skin. Some commenters above have mentioned more eco-friendly types of sunscreen... If these sunscreens do their job just as well as poison-filled regular sunscreens, then I’m certainly willing to drop some coin on the fancy ones. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
April 9, 2019 at 7:24 AM
Anonymous said…
I had no idea that sunscreen had negative effects on marine life! As someone who needs sunscreen in the summer, it’s nearly impossible for me to give up sunscreen when I am out in the summer heat; however, I think it’s important that eco-friendly sunscreen alternatives are available and made aware to the public.
April 9, 2019 at 3:50 PM
Anonymous said…
This post was very informative because, as you said, sunscreen isn't what most people think of when they think of water pollution. Trash seems to be a much more deadly and more widely known problem because people focus on spreading awareness for that. The bioaccumulation of sunscreen also vastly increases its potency in destroying marine ecosystems. These blog posts have revealed so many ways that we harm the environment its hard to believe that we're not doing something about it.
April 9, 2019 at 5:54 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a great blog post! Previously, I was not aware that such a popular sun product could actually have some detrimental effects on water quality. I believe that there are two ways to prevent this issue. First, continuing to produce suncreen products in which the water is not damaged is a great idea. But in order to implement these products, it is also important that the public is informed about the damage sunscreen can have. Once they are more advised about the effects, they will be more inclined to purchase eco-friendly products.
April 9, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Anonymous said…
This blog post was very informative! I knew some sunscreens could damage coral reef habitats, but I had never really understood how. There are sunscreens that are safer for coral reefs, namely those based around large zinc oxide particles, but their prevalence is minimal next to the large, famous sunscreen brands that still use oxygen zone and avobenzone. I think the best way to start reducing sunscreen pollution is through investing in physical sun protection, such as sun umbrellas or rash guards, that eliminate the need for sunscreen, or at least large amounts of it.
April 9, 2019 at 8:43 PM
Anonymous said…
There are actions we as consumers can take to prevent sunscreen pollution, such as not purchasing sunscreens with chemicals that are particularly harmful to the environment. In fact, Hawaii took action on the issue of sunscreen pollution, passing a bill that will make it the first US state to ban sunscreens that are harmful to coral reefs. The bill focuses on two chemicals – oxybenzone and octinoxate. If signed into law, it will be enacted in 2021, but consumers making conscious buying decisions can make a change even before then.
April 10, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Anonymous said…
I think that it is both very ironic and interesting how a product that is used for the skin protection and safety for billions of individuals is also a perpetrator of environmental damage in oceans. I was aware that our sunscreen does wash off into the water at the beach or lake, but I never realized the actual implications of sunscreen pollution in marine ecosystems. I also had no idea that in some cases, the concentration of sunscreen in fish is greater than the concentration of water! By incorporating efforts to create sunscreen products that are more environmentally friendly, reducing sunscreen pollution can increase the safety of the water and environment for coral reef habitats in the ocean.
April 10, 2019 at 9:34 AM
Anonymous said…
I have always wondered if sunscreen had any effect on our oceans given that so much must have been washed into the oceans. I think the only way to combat the pollution of sun screen is to search for an organic alternative. Much like how there are numerous natural alternatives to various cosmetic products, I think there has to be an alternative for sunscreen too. I think it’ll be worth the effort in the long run.
April 10, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Anonymous said…
As you mentioned briefly, chemicals in sunscreen pose a threat to coral reefs. The main chemicals that cause this are oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can decrease corals’ defenses against bleaching, damaging their DNA and hurting their development. This damage, along with harm from other stressors including ocean acidification, water pollution, rising sea temperatures, and coral disease, prevents corals from successfully reproducing and surviving in current marine environments. For this reason, people should look out for "reef safe sunscreens," which are becoming increasingly popular, as well as limit the use of these products when possible.
April 10, 2019 at 6:36 PM
Anonymous said…
With a growing population worldwide and an increasing demand for coastal recreation, it is crucial to address sunscreen. Before reading this article, I had no idea of the detrimental effects that sunscreen imposes. It is clearly dangerous to coral reefs and marine wildlife, so it must be addressed as quickly as possible. Other than banning the sale of sunscreen--which is in itself a poor solution--the only viable and innovative option is to develop a new kind of sunscreen that does not damage the ocean wildlife.
April 10, 2019 at 6:51 PM
Anonymous said…
With every innovation, it gets harder and harder to keep to a safe solution for all the beings involved. There seem to be more and more problems surfacing than seem possible to solve. Upon further research, I found that there is not direct solutions but that a combination of actions can help better the environment. Using safer ingredients to make sunscreens, consistent coast cleaning and an effort to keep the ozone layer stable all help to better the world for both us and all the organisms around us.
April 10, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Anonymous said…
This post was very interesting. I had never even thought of the fact that sunscreen could be detrimental to our environment. I think it is necessary that we find an alternative to sunscreen that is more environmentally friendly. Since sunscreen is so widely used, I think the public must be educated about the negative effects it has on the ocean and give them access to affordable alternatives. This will allow for the more environmentally friendly alternatives to be implemented.
April 14, 2019 at 9:19 PM
Anonymous said…
Whenever I go to the beach or go out on a summer day, sunscreen becomes part of my routine and a natural part of my lifestyle. However, I have never thought about the harm it can do to the environment when applying the sunscreen, so thank you so much for letting me know to be more careful in the future. From now on, when buying sunscreen, I need to minimize my usage or make sure that I check if there is any environmentally friendly sunscreen. Since sunscreen hurts coral reefs and many animals in the ocean, we need to solve this problem immediately, before it causes even more irreversible damage. Scientists need to put more attention towards these everyday products because they are stuff all humans need to use, but they hurt the environment.
April 14, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Anonymous said…
This post was so interesting! I never realized sunscreen could have such serious environmental impacts on marine pollution. We end to view it only as a protectant against the UV rays and neglect any of its environmental ramifications. As summer sets in, it is important that more people are aware of this issue due to the increased use of sunscreen. It is essential that we efficiently reduce its effects on the environment while still regaining the full benefits.
April 16, 2019 at 10:36 PM
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