Ingredients in sunscreen that harm coral reefs and sea creatures should be banned.

Reefs are gorgeous ecosystems that provide food and shelter to thousands of animal species! They can also aid humanity in the event of severe weather by acting as buffers against waves, storms, floods, and other natural calamities. Many coastal communities would be at risk of property destruction and possibly death if they weren't there. Regrettably, human activities have contributed to the decline of reefs and the creatures that rely on them for survival. Climate change, pollution, and, to some people's surprise, sunscreen are all examples of this.

Sunscreen is essential for skin protection; yet, several brands include certain questionable substances in their formulations. Oxybenzone is one of these compounds, and it causes coral bleaching.

Although only a small amount of sunscreen is hazardous to coral reefs, the US National Park Service estimates that about 5000 tons of sunscreen penetrate coral reef areas worldwide each year. Another ingredient in sunscreen, titanium dioxide, has been linked to a significant increase in hydrogen peroxide levels, harming phytoplankton, a key food source at the base of the marine food chain. Additionally, sunscreen ingredients can harm individuals by disrupting hormones, causing cell damage, and triggering allergies.

When reefs disappear, so does a large portion of the marine species that relies on them for food and refuge. Our https://scubadivingunderwater.com/ team wants to stop this process. All that is required is for people to use reef-safe mineral sunscreens and for hazardous sunscreens to be banned. Popular tropical tourist locations such as Hawaii, Key West, and Mexico have already enacted bans on sunscreens containing harmful ingredients. Sign our petition to urge Costa Rica and other countries to enact their own hazardous sunscreen bans right away!