coral bleaching

Eco Alert: Sunscreen Causes Coral Damage

A new study reveals the lotions slapped on by beach-goers are harming the world's coral reefs

Climate change, urban and industrial pollution, mining and overfishing are just some of the threats to coral reefs worldwide. A recent European Commission study now adds sunscreen lotions to that list. The paper states that up to ten percent of the world’s coral reefs—composed of marine organisms with external skeletons—are subject to bleaching due to chemicals in the sunscreens worn by beach-going tourists.

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