Each second in the world 8.8 liters of solar cream is poured into the seas and the Ocean due to the fact that approximately 80 million of tourists visit the beaches each year. Zoom on this phenomenon not without consequences for our health and our environment.
© MAXISCIENCES
The underside of the sun lotion
The activity of bathing results in the dilution of nearly 25 000 tonnes of solar protection of which more than 5 000 tonnes are absorbed directly by the marine species – animal and plant life.
The corals
A study published in 2008 in Environmental Health Perspectives and conducted by a team of the Faculty of Science of the Polytechnic University of the Marches in Ancona (Italy) has shown that some ingredients could kill the corals.
A swim after 20 minutes of application spreads almost 25% of the chemical components in the Ocean threatening the corals and the plankton – essential to the balance of the marine ecosystem and therefore of our survival. These pollutions have for consequence the fact that 10% of coral reefs are in danger and that half of the global corals are threatened of extinction within 20 years.
© Surfrider foundation europe
Others marine species
Even if, to date, there isn’t any study demonstrating the impact of sunscreen on marine mammals, it seems logical that the oily filters are toxic to our friends the fish, dolphins, whales & company because they ingest it on a regular basis. In the same way, the chemical component directly affects the growth of phytoplankton, which is the main food of a multitude of marine animals, putting them in danger of extinction.
The deadly components
Solar protection can be divided into two categories, those containing chemical filters and those containing mineral filters.
On the first hand, sun creams with chemical components are not biodegradable and can irritate the skin, cause allergies and destroy our marine ecosystems. For example, the cinnamate and benzophenone (derived from camphor) who have a role to filter the UV and the butyl paraben (a conservative), destroy an alga vital to the development and the survival of coral that causes bleaching and then death of the latter. But the ravage does not stop there, chemical residues would also have an impact on the plankton – these algae at the base of many marine food chains including whales.
On the other hand, sunscreen with minerals filters do not penetrate the skin, does not cause allergies and limit the impacts on the Ocean. These lotions called “organic” are the subject of strict regulations and are made without chemical components – without dyes, without parabens, without synthetic perfume and without nanoparticles (which is stifling the marine fauna and flora in the same way as micro-plastics).
Australia – Queensland – Great Barrier Reef
How to protect our skin, the Ocean and the corals?
It is preferable to prefer sun creams without ingredients derived from petrochemicals and safe for our environment. Surfers, increasingly alarmed by the state of our their spots, have launch environmentally friendly solar products, therefore it will be easy to get if you wish to.
Another solution is to reduce the use of sun protection by limiting the exposure by putting ourselves in the shade, staying under a parasol or wearing hats and clothing. And bathe in a t-shirt is a possibility, which is not only reserved for kids!
Sun cream is therefore not an ally without flaws and represents a serious danger to our friends if we don’t choose it well. Our consumers choices have considerable impacts on the world that surrounds us, it is therefore our responsibility to take the best decisions. Now that you know, enjoy safe bathing!
Laura Anty, Environmental Writer
