Sunscreen chemicals shed by swimmers may be toxic to marine creatures and contribute to coral reef decline, a study has found.
Although sunscreen is critical for preventing sunburns and skin cancer, some of its ingredients are not so beneficial to ocean-dwelling creatures, according to a study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.
Researchers from Sorbonne Universite in France said that one such chemical, octocrylene (OC), which is also in some cosmetics and hair products, accumulates in coral as fatty acid esters that could be toxic to the marine organism.