From Hawaii to the Florida Keys, certain types of sunscreen are getting banned. Scientists recently found that two chemicals commonly found in sunscreen, oxybenzone and octinoxate, harm coral reefs.
Corals are actually tiny animals that live in clusters. They make hard skeletons, which form reefs and provide food and shelter for many animals. But those two chemicals in sunscreen kill the coral animals. Because these chemicals are continually added to oceans, they can build up in corals, says Cheryl Woodley. She’s a marine scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
To keep corals healthy and your skin safe from the sun, only use sunscreen that doesn’t contain these two chemicals. Woodley also recommends wearing a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt to physically block the sun’s rays.