Keeping lubricated in hot weather is always good, but it also has disadvantages for the environment. Even if you have bought waterproof sunscreen, you can never prevent some of that cream from ending up in the sea when you go swimming. From various studies, such as this one research, it appears that at least 25 percent disappears into the water this way. Even if you shower off sunscreen at home, it can always end up in the sea. Converted, approximately 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in our oceans every year.
Harmful sunscreen
The ingredients in our sunscreens are often harmful to marine life as they destroy plankton. It is poisonous to fish and kills the coral. Studies show that the substances in the UV filters, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, bleach the coral reefs. Coral absorbs these substances and that hinders the growth and reproduction of the coral. As a result, the coral bleaches and eventually dies.
A durable sunscreen
Fortunately, not all sunscreen is bad for our oceans. For example, the liquid propylene glycol has little to no effect on the coral. So it’s good to look at the ingredients on the bottle of sunscreen what’s in it.
Researchers who published a study in the journal in 2022 Science recommend long-lasting mineral sunscreens. Unlike regular sunscreen, they do not penetrate the skin, but lay a layer on the skin. Several brands have these mineral sunscreens.
Stopping sunscreen is therefore not an option, because you have to keep protecting your skin against the sun. If you do go out into the sun, you can protect yourself with natural sunscreen, clothing, sunglasses and hats.
Bron: Scientias.nl/Dragonfly
2023-05-21 18:54:46
#opt #sustainable #sunscreen
