Sunscreen's a bleach for aquatic life

[WhiteTara]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/13/BA4Q10USHM.DTL

Plopping down on the beach slathered from head to toe with sunscreen may help with the carcinoma, but the inevitable cooling dip in the ocean won't be good for the coral.

The creams that sunbathers use to ward off cancer-causing ultraviolet rays cause bleaching in coral reefs and seem to accumulate in fish and other aquatic life, according to recent studies.

The discovery creates a catch-22 for pale-skinned, sun-worshiping environmentalists who love to snorkel. But it is a particular problem for the environment because sunscreen is used almost everywhere on Earth, and it invariably ends up in the water.
snip
"Almost 80 percent of our water in the U.S. shows trace amounts of chemicals from personal care products, which could be sunscreens, lotions, colognes or medications," said Sejal Choksi, the program director for Baykeeper, an environmental watchdog group.

more important info at this link
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/13/BA4Q10USHM.DTL

[Kali]

1. I knew that crap was going to turn out to have bad unintended consequences

as do many of out techno fixes against nature. I figured it would be more intimatly affecting humans but this confirms my gut anyway.

[WhiteTara]

2. I know. We just love our Nature to death

[pansypoo53219]

3. i believe it has worse consequences.

i never use it myself. it only stops the rays that cause the TREATABLE skin cancer. lets the really bad shit in and so the sunbathers who slap that stuff on think they are safe and they stay out too long. sunburn is telling you to STOP.
saved a lot of money too.

[MiniMe]

4. It makes sense if you think about it. Sun is usually what creates the colors,

the sunblock is acting as a suncreen on the coral too.

[akwapez]

5. link with more against sunscreen

http://www.naturalnews.com/021902.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Oh lord.

Darwinism in action.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. I have a lightweight spandex diving skin that is a full body suit

it is supposed to be for cool water swimming but is a most excellent sunblock.

We bought them when we took our first snorkeling vacation to the Keys, and although we got some strange looks when we came out in these black catsuits in Florida in August, they were an awesome sunburn preventative. Yeah they are hot when you first put them on and if you are sweaty it is interesting GETTING them on but as soon as you hit the water, you are cooled off and you are actually cooler when you come OUT of the water and the breeze hits you.

So off we went to Cozumel with our black spandex catsuits, again the odd looks etc but no sunburn, and only needed sunblock on our hands and the backs of our necks.

I wouldn't think of a snorkeling vacation (or other water intensive) without one. I can lie in the water for HOURS just gazing at the fish and stuff and not worry about sunburn; I am very fair so it was of utmost importance that I not sunburn and ruin my vacation.