Marine biologists estimate that up to fourteen thousand tons of sunscreen wash into coral reefs annually, prompting tourist destinations like Hawaii and Palau to legally ban products containing chemicals like oxybenzone.

A closer look

Marine biologists estimate that up to fourteen thousand tons of sunscreen wash into coral reefs annually, prompting tourist destinations like Hawaii and Palau to legally ban products containing chemicals like oxybenzone. These specific ultraviolet filters induce catastrophic coral bleaching, meaning your desperate attempt to avoid a sunburn is actively murdering one of the most vital and delicate ecosystems on the entire planet. Local governments finally decided that keeping vibrant underwater reefs alive was slightly more important than catering to pale tourists who refuse to wear a simple rash guard. You can still buy mineral sunscreens that make you look like you are covered in thick white house paint, which is a small price to pay to stop systematically dissolving the ocean's biodiversity every time you decide to take a tropical dip