Many suntan lotions contain substances
that can be harmful to our surfing playground.
Four substances of traditional sunscreen can cause dormant viruses in coral to rise up and slaughter our indigenous surf makers. These reef-killing substances include: parabens, cinnamates, benzophenones, and camphor derivatives.
Within four days of this death brigade showing up on our good vibe, coral dies.
Perhaps, there are greater threats to our coral reefs than sunscreen; nevertheless, as surfers we can do our part every day while riding waves.
let's look at the scientific research.
According to a study published in 2008 in Environmental Health Perspectives, "sunscreens cause the rapid and complete bleaching of hard corals."
The substances in traditional suntan lotions promote viral infections in corals causing coral to die in some of our favorite ocean-going play spots.
In the study, sunscreen, even in extremely low quantities, "resulted in the release of large amounts of coral mucous (composed of zooxanthellae and coral tissue) within 18 to 48 hours and complete bleaching of hard corals within 96 hours."
When our suntan lotion washes off us while we are paddling out, it, even in small amounts, destroys the very corals we rely on to create some of our most awesome rides.
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