Your Sunscreen Could be Polluting the Ocean

Did you know an estimated 6,000-14,000 tons of sunscreen are deposited into coral reef areas of the sea every year? Sunscreen may prevent cancer, but that doesn't apply to the oceans. Sunscreen prevents ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet is the cause of many skin cancers and skin problems. In fact a study in Australia shows that long time use of sunscreen decreases the risk of skin cancer. The problem is that many ingredients used in sunscreen products are synthetic organic molecules, like those used to make plastics. These molecules are designed to be highly stable and so they don’t break down when they enter the environment. As a result, sunscreen ingredients are detectable in species

including fish, sea mammals such as dolphins and even marine-dwelling birds.