User talk:Grace laurent/sandbox

Over the past few decades, the topic of sunscreen has been talked about by millions as people got more conscious of skin cancer and the coral reef bleaching that can happen when people go to the beach. Sunscreen is very important to society to prevent burns and such, but it is also damaging the earth very quickly. One of the most significant damages of sunscreen on the ocean is the fact that it helps bleach coral. Coral bleaching is when the healthy and colorful coral turns completely white from sunscreen and global warming. This is a tragedy because coral reefs are very integral to our society. Coral reefs are a natural barrier to protect land and coastlines from natural disasters such as hurricanes or tsunamis, and without that natural barrier, humans are in danger. Coral is such an important part of ocean life, and damaging and eventually killing it, will lead to a disruption of the natural balance of ocean life due to the fact that about 25% of ocean life lives in coral reefs. This is a very substantial amount of ocean life, and by killing the coral, it can kill the fish that live in the coral since they have nowhere else to live. Coral is highly important to the earth, and we need to protect it in every possible way we can. One of the main reasons why sunscreen is harming the coral reefs is the main chemical in many popular brands of sunscreen, oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a toxic chemical that gets into the ocean and causes bleaching. This happens primarily due to people using aerosol sunscreens because they spray them into the air, and through the air, it gets onto the sand and eventually can land in the water when the tide brings them in. Also, another way oxybenzone gets into the ocean is by people not waiting a certain time to go into the water and it gets in the water from your skin. Also, if you do not wash the sunscreen off properly if you take a shower, the oxybenzone can get into the ocean through the sewer pipes, causing the oxybenzone to latch onto the coral and bleach it. Sunscreen is crucial to keep your skin safe when you spend a lot of time at the beach, so using the correct sunscreen that is best fit for you is very important. Finding a cream mineral sunscreen that does not have the main ingredient of oxybenzone is the absolute best option for keeping yourself and the environment safe. Wearing protective sun gear like a hat and long sleeves can also be very beneficial to keeping you away from harm when it comes to skin cancer. Skin cancer can show up at any age, so protecting yourself and the people around you can truly benefit your life. Oxybenzone is a terrifying chemical that is in so many name-brand sunscreens, so be on the lookout for that chemical when it comes to buying the sunscreen best fit for you.

sources used:

Simon, Stacy. “How Safe Is Your Sunscreen?” American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, 9 Aug. 2018, https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-safe-is-your-sunscreen.html#:~:text=Oxybenzone%20is%20one%20of%20the,oxybenzone%20can%20cause%20skin%20allergies. LoFaso, Ashley. “Sunscreen Pollution Accelerating Demise of Coral Reefs, Experts Say.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 2020, https://abcnews.go.com/International/sunscreen-pollution-accelerating-demise-coral-reefs-experts/story?id=68807099. Kim, Kay. “Sunscreen and Its Impact on Marine Life.” TUGI, 2021, https://www.theurbangardeninitiative.org/blog/sunscreen-and-its-impact-on-marine-life#:~:text=Oxybenzone%20can%20also%20create%20hormonal,and%20defects%20in%20young%20mussels. Allen, Melissa. “Are You Unknowingly Endangering Marine Life With Your Sunscreen?” Active Life Company, Active Life Company, 8 Oct. 2022, https://theactivelifecompany.com/blogs/news/your-sunscreen-may-be-endangering-marine-life. Atkinson, Ellen. “Is Sunscreen Environmentally-Friendly?” Purple Turtle Co, 15 Feb. 2021, https://purpleturtleco.com/blogs/news/is-sunscreen-environmentally-friendly.