Yes, We Can Save Our Reefs by Using Coral-Safe Sunscreens

Coral reefs function like oases in a desert, providing food and shelter for marine life

Source : Nariman Mesharrafa [10]

Coral reefs are a precious shelter for many sea creatures, but climate change has been a persistent
threat to their survival. When seas get warmer, corals react by expelling the algae living in their tissues,
thereby turning white, a phenomenon widely-known as coral-bleaching [1].

Around 70% of coral reefs around the world have experienced massive bleaching. What makes this
alarming is that these corals are more susceptible to stress and can easily die as a result [2].

Little did we know, we humans have compounded this problem. Yes, we’re talking about sunscreens.

Read Also: Reviving Earth’s Dying Organ: The Coral Reefs

Is this really happening?

 Coral reefs that are affected by coral bleaching will turn white and become more vulnerable

Source : Ahmed Areef [11]

Sadly, yes. A recent study has linked oxybenzone from washed-off sunscreens to damage to coral reefs
even at extremely low concentrations, including increased bleaching [3,4]. Another study also found that
as little oxybenzone as the equivalent of one drop of water in six Olympic-size pools is all it takes to
damage the reefs [5].

So picture all the greased up swimmers and surfers at your typical beach on a nice summer day—you
can bet there would be more than a drop of oxybenzone floating around.

Not to mention, oxybenzone in sunscreens has also been linked to skin irritations and hormone
disruptions [6].

What makes coral-safe sunscreens different?

Chemical compounds contained in sunscreens have been demonstrated to reach detectable levels in both
fresh and sea-water systems

Source : Clarissa Watson [12]

A reef-safe sunscreen is a sunscreen free of chemical ingredients which can damage and potentially kill
coral reefs, such as, oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene [7].

There are other things to consider, though. To be truly coral-safe, the particles in sunscreens should also
be “non-nano” because anything below 100 nanometers can be absorbed by corals, which can disrupt
their reproduction and growth cycles, ultimately leading to bleaching [8,9].

Last but not least, always look for a “reef-safe” label when shopping for sunscreens. Haereticus
Environmental Laboratory publishes a list of sunscreens that are safe for the environment. Products
labeled with “Protect Land + Sea certification” mean they have been verified to be free of pollutants in
many different environments.
 Most zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens contain nanoparticles that can harm corals

Source : National Cancer Institute [13]

If you now know just how unsafe your chemical sunscreen is for your health, why not make the swap?
But remember: the health of our environment is also important. As we all know, coral reefs are vital and
by maintaining them, we can take care of our nature. By investing in reef-safe sunscreens, you can
protect both your health and Earth at the same time. Talk about a win-win solution!

Nature is beautiful, so let's protect it.

 Coral reefs are habitat for fish and a part of marine ecosystems

Source: Hiroko Yoshii [14]

Read Also: Earth’s Superplant: Mangroves vs. Climate Change

References :

[1] https://www.projectplanetid.com/post/reviving-earth-s-dying-organ-the-coral-reefs

[2] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html

[3] https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/what-is-reef-safe-sunscreen.html

[4] https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.10966

[5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/after-sunscreen-
protects-humans-it-massacres-coral-reefs/

[6] https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
[7] https://www.cnet.com/health/reef-safe-sunscreens-explained/

[8] https://www.greenfins.net/blog/sunscreen-and-coral-reefs

[9] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/sunscreen-destroying-coral-reefs-alternatives-
travel-spd/

Photos :

[10] https://unsplash.com/photos/i9ReKyKNK6I

[11] https://unsplash.com/photos/EnQd4J45Ffs

[12] https://unsplash.com/photos/lpFTFW9BZSU

[13] https://unsplash.com/photos/vLuLnJD4vKA

[14] https://unsplash.com/photos/9y7y26C-l4Y

#coralreefs #sunscreen #ecofriendly

 Ya, Kita Dapat Menyelamatkan Terumbu Karang melaui Tabir Surya

Terumbu karang berfungsi sebagai oasis di tengah gurun, ia memberikan suplai makanan dan tempat
tinggal bagi makhluk laut

Sumber: Nariman Mesharrafa [10]

Terumbu karang adalah tempat tinggal yang berharga bagi makhluk laut, tetapi perubahan iklim telah
menjadi ancaman bagi keberlangsungan terumbu karangan. Ketika laut menjadi lebih hangat, karang
bereaksi dengan mengeluarkan alga yang hidup di jaringannya sehingga akhirnya memutih, suatu
fenomena yang dikenal luas sebagai pemutihan karang [1].

Sekitar 70% terumbu karang yang yang berada di dunia telah mengalami pemutihan. Yang membuat hal
ini mengkhawatirkan adalah karang yang terkena pemutihan akan lebih rentan terkena stress dan ini
bisa diikuti oleh kematian karang [2].

Secara tidak sadar kita telah memperparah masalah ini. Ya, kita sedang berbicara tentang tabir surya.

Baca Juga: Merawat Organ Bumi yang Sekarat: Terumbu Karang

Apakah hal ini benar terjadi?

Terumbu karang yang terdampak pemutihan akan berubah warna menjadi putih dan lebih rentan

Sumber: Ahmed Areef [11]

Berita buruknya, ya. Studi terbaru telah menemukan keterkaitan oxybenzone yang berasal dari tabir
surya dengan kerusakan terumbu karang bahkan dalam konsentrasi rendah, ini termasuk meningkatnya
pemutihan karang [3,4]. Studi lainnya juga menemukan satu tetes oxybenzone dapat merusak terumbu
karang dengan luas jangkauan enam kolam renang ukuran olimpiade [5].

Jadi bayangkan semua perenang dan peselancar yang menggunakan tabir surya di pantai pada hari
musim panas yang menyenangkan—Anda bisa bertaruh akan ada lebih dari setetes oxybenzone yang
akan bercampur dengan air laut.

Belum lagi, oxybenzone dalam tabir surya juga dikaitkan dengan iritasi kulit dan gangguan hormon [6].

Apa yang membuat tabir surya ramah terumbu karang berbeda?

 Senyawa kimia yang terkandung dalam tabir surya telah dibuktikan mencapai tingkat yang dapat
dideteksi baik di sistem air tawar maupun di air laut

Sumber: Clarissa Watson [12]

Tabir surya ramah terumbu karang adalah tabir surya yang tidak menggunakan bahan kimia yang dapat
merusak dan membunuh terumbu karang seperti oxybenzone, octinoxate dan octocrylene [7].

Namun, ada hal lain yang harus dipertimbangkan. Untuk memastikan bahwa tabir surya tersebut
sepenuhnya aman bagi terumbu karang, partikel yang ada pada tabir surya harus “non-nano” karena
apapun di bawah 100 nanometer dapat diserap oleh terumbu karang, yang dapat mengganggu siklus
reproduksi serta pertumbuhan, dan pada akhirnya mengarah pada pemutihan karang [8,9].

Terakhir, selalu cari label "reef-safe" saat berbelanja tabir surya. Laboratorium lingkungan Haereticus
menerbitkan daftar tabir surya yang aman bagi lingkungan. Produk berlabel "Protect Land + Sea
certification" berarti produk tersebut telah diverifikasi bebas dari polutan di lingkungan yang berbeda.
 Kebanyakan tabir surya berbahan dasar zinc oxide dan titanium dioxide mengandung partikel nano
yang dapat merusak karang

Sumber: National Cancer Institute [13]

Jika Anda sekarang tahu betapa tidak amannya tabir surya kimiawi bagi kesehatan Anda, mengapa tidak
menggantinya? Tapi ingat: kesehatan lingkungan kita juga penting. Seperti yang kita ketahui, terumbu
karang sangatlah penting dan dengan menjaganya, kita juga dapat menjaga alam kita. Dengan
berinvestasi dalam tabir surya yang aman untuk terumbu karang, Anda dapat melindungi kesehatan dan
bumi pada saat yang bersamaan. Win-win solution, bukan?

Alam itu indah, mari kita jaga bersama.

 Terumbu karang merupakan habitat ikan dan bagian dari ekosistem laut

Sumber: Hiroko Yoshii [14]

Baca Juga: Tanaman Super: Mangrove vs. Perubahan Iklim

Referensi:

[1] https://www.projectplanetid.com/post/reviving-earth-s-dying-organ-the-coral-reefs

[2] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html

[3] https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/what-is-reef-safe-sunscreen.html

[4] https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.10966

[5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/after-sunscreen-
protects-humans-it-massacres-coral-reefs/

[6] https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
[7] https://www.cnet.com/health/reef-safe-sunscreens-explained/

[8] https://www.greenfins.net/blog/sunscreen-and-coral-reefs

[9] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/sunscreen-destroying-coral-reefs-alternatives-
travel-spd/

Foto:

[10] https://unsplash.com/photos/i9ReKyKNK6I

[11] https://unsplash.com/photos/EnQd4J45Ffs

[12] https://unsplash.com/photos/lpFTFW9BZSU

[13] https://unsplash.com/photos/vLuLnJD4vKA

[14] https://unsplash.com/photos/9y7y26C-l4Y

#terumbukarang #tabirsurya #ramahlingkungan