Sunscreen’s Impact on Coral Reefs

DESPITE COVERING JUST 0.1% OF THE EARTH'S OCEANS. REEFS SUPPORT ABOUT 25% OF ALL MARINE SPECIES REEF ALREADY ARE UNDER MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM WARMING WATERS, POLLUTION, OVERFISHING, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT WHO USE CAKE. RONAN SHOWS US HOW REEFS FACE AN ADDITIONAL THREAT FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE. >> SUNSCREEN AND SPECIFICALLY CHEMICALS IN SUNSCREEN PETRO CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS AND ONE OF THOSE CHEMICALS WAS CALLED OXYBENZONE. >> DR. CRAIG TALENT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGIST AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NONPROFIT HER ATTICUS ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY. EVERY TIME YOU GO FOR A SWIM, SOME OF YOUR SUNSCREEN GETS LEFT BEHIND RELEASING TONS OF SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS ANNUALLY IN FREE FERRY US ALONE. ACCORDING TO A STUDY IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES. BECAUSE CORAL BLEACHING. >> IT CAUSED. REALLY WEIRD ENDOCRINE DOES NOT KILL THEM AT HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS THAT WERE ALSO ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT. THAT'S A FORM THEM. >> IN AN AP INTERVIEW. >> DOWNS SAYS THE POLLUTION DOESN'T JUST COME FROM PEOPLE SKIN WHILE THEY'RE IN THE WATER. >> SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS CAN ENTER WATERWAYS WHEN WE SHOWER WASH TOWELS OR EVEN URINATE. AFTER BEACH TRIPS. >> 2, IT'S JUST CHARGES ARE PROBABLY. LARGEST SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION OF SUNSCREENS IN THE MARINA BAR. AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS PUTTING IT ON. EVERYBODY'S WASHING IT OFF. IF THEY'RE NOT AT THE BEACH. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVER GET IN THE WATER, THE SPRAY THEMSELVES WITH AEROSOL SUNSCREEN SPRAY. BUT THEY DON'T LIKE GETTING IN THE WATER OR THEY'LL JUST KIND OF GO NEED TO COME. THEY COME OUT, BUT THEN THEY'LL GO HOME AND WASH IT OFF. THE PROBLEM IS, IS 99% OF ALL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, THE WATER THAT THEY. DISCHARGE INTO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATED. >> DOWN SAYS THAT WHILE SUNSCREEN PREVENT SUNBURN AND REDUCES CANCER RISK, NOT ALL FORMULAS CARRY THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. ZINC OXIDE COULD BE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS. >> THERE'S SEVERAL STUDIES SHOWING THAT DEPENDING ON THE THE GREATEST ZINC OXIDE IN THE SUNSCREEN PRODUCT. HEAVY METAL LEVELS CAN BE. VERY, VERY DIFFERENT. >> SCIENTISTS SAY THAT'S A SMALLER STRESS EARTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT ONE CONSUMERS CAN ACTUALLY ADDRESS FOLLOW THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT IS THE COVER UP. >> COVERING UP WITH, LIKE I SAID, UP OF CLOTHING, PARIS, ALL. YOU KNOW, SO GET OUT OF THE GET OUT OF THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN PUT ON SOME SHADE. OR SUNGLASSES IF YOU'RE GOING SWIMMING AND YOU HAVE BEARSKIN SURE USE A SUNSCREEN THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT AGAIN, IT'S COULDN'T PRONOUNCE BE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT TO USE A PRODUCT. >> AND ESTIMATED 25% OF APPLIED SUNSCREEN WASHES OFF DURING RECREATIONAL WATER ACTIVITIES. FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M KATE CRONIN.