Coral reefs are among the most biologically productive and diverse of ecosystems, and directly sustain half a billion people. But some 60 percent of these reef systems are threatened by a deadly combination of climate change, industrial pollution and excess UV radiation.
...Chemical compounds in sunscreen and other personal skin care products have been detected near both sea and freshwater tourist areas. Previous research has shown that these chemicals can accumulate in aquatic animals, and biodegrade into toxic by-products.
Researchers led by Roberto Danovaro at the University of Pisa in Italy added controlled amounts of three brands of sunscreen to seawater surrounding coral reefs in Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand and Egypt.
Even small doses provoked large discharges of coral mucous -- a clear sign of environmental stress -- within 18 to 48 hours. Within 96 hours complete bleaching of corals had occurred.
So, basically, pollution makes us more and more susceptible to cancer-causing UV rays, which makes it more and more necessary to wear sunscreen, especially at the beach of course...which, along with the pollution, fucks up the coral reefs.
le sigh.
I'll just never go outside again, okay?
6 comments:
Many places with coral reefs will require that people wear biodegradable sunscreen. This sunscreen sucks, and you have to reapply every couple of hours, after you get out of the water, and if you sweat a lot. If you're pasty like me, you just have to accept the fact that you -are- going to get sunburnt. Pretty much any time you go out in nature (especially if you're going to shower and the water is going to enter the environment unfiltered), though, you should try to use natural/biodegradable products.
Yeah, thing is for me, I have a history of melanoma, so no sun-courting for moi. Like, at all. I'll just have to save my ocean bathing for warm nights or something...i mean if I ever get to the beach at all again...
give me my tinfoil hat a corner. I'm never coming out again =(
We could just stay in and watch Sci Fi instead.
yay!
Maybe they can send New York City subway cars to replace these reefs.
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