Using sunscreen cosmetics, particularly UV-filter creams, tourists irreparably harm the nature: sunscreen filters consist of elements that may destroy coral reefs. Such conclusions have been made by the Italian researchers, reports the publication “Environmental Health Perspectives”. The research was conducted by the specialists of the Polytechnic University of the Marche in the Italian Ancona. They discovered that discoloring of numerous coral reefs (which is equal to their death) is caused by viruses, the activity of which significantly increases during interaction with chemical compounds, used as UV-filters in the process of manufacturing sunscreen creams.
The black list of the most dangerous for corals chemical compounds that can be found in creams include the three main components, used as absorbents of ultra-violet rays. To this group belong cinnamates (ethers of the cinnamon acids), benzophenon and camphor derivatives. According to scientists, even a small amount of these substances increases activity of viruses that destroy the seaweed answering for coloring of corals. The above components get to the sea water in different ways, including from the skin of the bathing tourists.
According to the latest data, nowadays, 10% of world’s coral reefs are imperiled because of particles of the sunscreen creams in the sea water. The situation is worsening due to rapid development of tourism in the areas of corals. One of the possible solutions might be creation of new chemical compounds that shall not only protect skin from the undesirable influence of ultra-violet rays, but also be harmless for the environment. |