Multimedia Gallery
The Discovery FilesNo Sunscreen for Corals
Coral reefs worldwide provide divers with a colorful tour of the undersea world. Many divers submerge lathered in sunscreen, each year, leaving 6,000 tons of sunscreen washing through U.S. reefs. But how does this impact how corals protect themselves from sunlight? Learn more on NSF's "The Discovery Files."
Credit: National Science Foundation
No Sunscreen for Corals
This is The Discovery Files, from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Coral reefs worldwide provide divers with a colorful tour of the undersea world. Many divers submerge lathered in sunscreen, each year, leaving 6,000 tons of sunscreen washing through U.S. reefs.
And that can be bad news for corals! Some sunscreens can do irreparable damage to coral reefs, those important but endangered ecosystems that provide natural protection for coastlines.
Supported in part by NSF, researchers at Stanford University are working to understand sunscreen formulations that can be safe for both humans and corals.
For some time, scientists have known oxybenzone, an organic compound found in many sunscreens, can be harmful to corals; but they have not understood why. This new research provides surprising insight.
The study revealed that, while oxybenzone protects humans from the harmful rays of the sun, it could have the opposite effect on corals, making them more vulnerable to sunlight. These corals metabolized the oxybenzone, producing products that inflict great damage when exposed to sunlight.
The team noted oxybenzone may not be the only sunscreen ingredient threatening coral, that more research needs to be done.
Ecotourism of coral reefs provides wondrous study of life under the sea. The researchers hope their work will lead to sunscreens that protect a vital ecosystem as well.
Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at nsf.gov.
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