SunScreen ingredient is toxic to coral, killing off reefs

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Date

October 23, 2015

Author

Reuters

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Classification code

BW20151023_S2/4

Excerpt

A common ingredient found in sunscreen is toxic to coral and contributing to the decline of reefs around the world, according to new research published on Tuesday. Oxybenzone, a UV-filtering chemical compound found in 3,500 brands of sunscreen worldwide, can be fatal to baby coral and damaging to adults in high concentrations, according to the study published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. The international research team that conducted the study, led by Craig Downs, found the highest concentrations of oxybenzone around coral reefs popular with tourists, particularly those in Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Citation

SunScreen ingredient is toxic to coral, killing off reefs. (2015, October 23-24). BusinessWorld, p. S2/4.