The 5 articles I carefully selected are all articles relating to the science behind oxybenzone in the ocean, coral reefs in Hawaii, and the overall threat of sunscreen in the ocean. I searched within the DU library website for articles on just oxybenzone and filtered the results by selecting “Peer-reviewed Articles”. Combined I was able to describe oxybenzone, explained the causes of coral reef degradation and bleaching, and the impact of oxybenzone on corals. Below is the results of the important points I found in the 5 sources. Oxybenzone is an ultraviolet filtering chemical commonly found in personal care products, like lotions and sunscreens (Bratkovics , Wirth and Sapozhnikova 2015). It filters UV light, which protects the human skin …show more content…
from harmful exposure to UV irradiation and are typically hydrophobic compounds (Bluthgen, Zucchi and Fent 2012). Oxybenzone can be exposed to aquatic environments directly by washing off the skin in the ocean, or indirectly from wastewater. In fact, approximately 25% of applied sunscreen washes off in the water (McCoshum, Schlarb and Baum 2016). Due to the ways this chemical can be exposed, it has not only been detected in seawater, but also in freshwater (Bluthgen, Zucchi and Fent 2012). Coastal and marine tourism grow rapidly every year, with this growth also comes an increase in infrastructural development and water activities, which then increases environmental degradation, pollution, and destruction of habitats, such as coral reefs (Sanchez-Quiles and Tovar-Sanchez 2015).
Hawai’i is a prime example of an area that is strongly affected by this growing issue. One of the main reasons why Hawai’i is such a popular destination is because of its beautiful coral reefs and marine life, but with the increase of tourism, coastal beaches and popular snorkel destinations are becoming saturated with contaminants that come from sunscreen and other personal care products used by …show more content…
tourists. UV filtering compounds found in sunscreen are lipophilic, which, when found in water, tend to accumulate in the ocean’s surface microlayer and can be found in certain marine organisms (Sanchez-Quiles and Tovar-Sanchez 2015). This accumulation of chemicals in the surface of the ocean may have an effect on light availability for photosynthetic organisms within the reef ecosystem. Studies have also shown that oxybenzone is known to have negative effects on stony corals, which are vital reef builders and help protect shorelines from wave erosion (McCoshum, Schlarb and Baum 2016). In the study, when the stony coral was introduced to various concentrations of Oxybenzone it caused viral infections on the coral, which then caused a bleaching event. They also normally prefer associating with particulate organic matter in the environment (Bratkovics , Wirth and Sapozhnikova 2015). “Coral bleaching can occur when elevated temperature and high solar radiation cause the degeneration and expulsion of symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae from the coral host.” (Jokiel and Brown 2004).
Coral bleaching acquired its name from the white color the corals turn after the zooxanthellae leave its host. Zooxanthellae play a vital role for corals by supplying them with photosynthetic products, which are important to their survival and it also gives the coral its color. Over the past several decades the temperature of Hawaiian waters have increased and caused several bleaching events throughout the islands. Aside from temperature changes, bleaching events can be cause by random changes in the environment, which include but are not limited to, an increase or decrease of irradiance, altered quality in the visible range, altered spectral quality in the ultraviolet radiation range, low salinity, sedimentation, infectious diseases, oil contamination, and exposure to toxic materials (Jokiel and Brown 2004). In the case of oxybenzone, corals are most likely being affected by the exposure of toxic materials and, because oxybenzone normally accumulates in the surface of the water, UV radiation range and irradiance decrease. The accumulation of the chemical in the surface can create a barrier that blocks some of the UV light from getting to the corals, which then decreases irradiance and radiation
range.
The physical effect of exposure to dioxin was first seen in skin diseases developed by chemical plant workers in 1895. The exposure to dioxin results in a type of skin disease like acne called "chloroacne," since its cause was initially and incorrectly linked to chlorine gas. In 1957, in Germany, Dr. Karl Schulz of the University of Hamburg identified chloroacne in several workers from a Boehringer chemical plant. The disease in its mildest form resembles teen-age acne but differs in that the blackheads and cyst cluster in two locations: appearing in a crescent shape outside of and under the eyes and ears. In more pronounced cases, pus-containing spots erupt and spread across the rest of the face, neck, shoulder and down to the rest of the body.
Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef.
Joe, Brancatelli. "What Is Polluting Our Beaches?" Popular Science 1 Mar. 2003. Database. 23 Oct. 2005.
This website gives a large historical overlook and possible conclusion to the issue of coral reef bleaching. Since the 1980’s episodes of coral reef bleaching and death have occurred almost every year in one or more of the world's tropical or subtropical seas. Bleaching happens in episodes, with the most severe typically accompanying coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomena. Bleaching episodes have resulted in loss of coral
Coral Reefs are said to be the “tropical rainforest” of the sea. They are home to over 25% of all marine life (http://coralreefalliance.org.stories/storyReader$77). Over the past few decades they have been subjected to destructive anthropogenic practices. Some of the major threats to coral reefs include sedimentation, water pollution, harmful recreational activities, and global warming. All of these things cause stress on corals and can potentially cause mortality. Corals are made up of two parts, a polyp and zooxanthellae. A polyp is a calcerous body that grows from a hard part of the ocean floor. Zooxanthellae is a photosynthetic algae which lives in the polyp and provide energy for themselves and the coral. In many cases, corals undergo “bleaching,” which is a process where corals lose the zooxantheallae or chlorophyll pigment, and turn white (Wilkinson et all). After bleaching corals can survive for several months. It is possible for corals to recover by hosting more zooxantheallae, but it can take between 5 and 50 years for them to recover completely (Wilkinson et all, 1999).
Coral bleaching is when the tiny algae that lives in the coral which causes it to be bright and colourful, gets so stressed out when the water temperature exceeds the limit that it can handle, which then makes the algae
Leading scientists advise climate change will cause increases to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Rising sea levels pose a significant risk to coastal communities, while the world’s oceans could become too acidic to support coral reefs and other calcifying marine organisms. Coral reefs contain only six per cent of the area of the Great Barrier Reef, yet they provide critical habitat and food for numerous species in the ecosystem. However, climate change has already impacted coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef as corals are very helpless against its potential impacts. Eight mass coral bleaching events has occurred since 1979, triggered by unusually high water temperatures. And because of this, zooxanthellae (photosynthetic algae) leave their tissues and corals will have no more colours hence ‘bleaching’. Without the zooxanthellae, the corals that remain gradually starve to death. Once the coral dies, fish and a multitude of other marine species are soon affected. Rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storm surges will see more erosion of Australia’s coastline, causing community and residential
Coral bleaching is exactly what you're envisioning now in your head, white bleached out coral reefs which is far different from the colorful lively structures you're used to. Corals get their brilliant
Think of marine chemistry as a balance. Both sides of the balance need just the right weight to maintain equilibrium. Now imagine the weights on each side of the balance are variables such as nutrients and that the balance itself is the ocean. If there is too much of one nutrient, the balance tips too far one way, therefore causing the chemistry of the ocean to be thrown off. The chemistry of the ocean is what drives its overall function. If there is too much of one thing or too little of another, the ocean ceases to function properly. One major factor that tips the oceans chemical balance is human activity.
Coral bleaching is the loss of a corals’ zooxanthellae that lives in the tissues of the coral and because of this loss the corals turn completely white. Coral bleaching is mostly caused by the warm temperatures of the water which means that climate change can have an effect on the coral reefs. Corals live in very nutrient poor waters and have certain zones of tolerance to water temperature, salinity, UV radiation, opacity, and nutrient quantities (Jason Buchheim). Because most coral reefs are found in clear, shallow tropical waters, light is able to pass through and heat up the water and coral beneath it. Most reef-building corals normally contain around 1-5 x 106 zooxanthellae cm-2 of live surface tissue and 2-10 pg of chlorophyll a per zooxanthella. When corals bleach they commonly lose 60-90% of their zooxanthellae and each zooxanthella may lose 50-80% of its photosynthetic pigments (Jason Buchheim). Because of climate change, the water temperatures change in various locations and regions of the world that may not be used to that certain type of climate. Areas with coral reefs are affected by ...
The leading natural cause of destruction among the coral reefs is global warming. Global warming causes the bleaching of coral reefs to occur. Bleaching is a response to stress by the coral reef that happens when the water becomes to warm. The coral then put out a brownish zooxanthelle which causes them to lose their color. Without the zooxanthelle, the corals cannot provide nourishment for itself and th...
The first known use of sunscreen was in Ancient Greece and Egypt. They need it there because of the hot climate. The first time it was commercially produced was in 1936. The founder of sunscreen is also the founder of L'Oreal, French chemist Eugène Schueller. Another chemist, H. A. Milton Blake, brought sunscreen to Australia around the same time. Ancient Greeks used olive oil and Ancient Egyptians used extracts of rice, jasmine, and lupin plants to create sunscreen. These techniques are still used. Today sunscreen contains a mixture of organic and inorganic ingredients. The inorganic materials are enhanced with UVB. It absorbs the organic chemicals, cinnamates, octyl, methoxycinnamate , oara-aminobenzoic acid, and benzophenes. These organic chemicals convert the sun’s energy into harmless heat. Sunscreen’s purpose is to protect your skin from the sun. It is used to reflect or scatter the bright light from the sun away from your delicate skin. People apply sunscreen when there skin is not used to the sun or when the sun is very strong. The factor of sunscreen will tell you how long you can stay in the sun. If you apply a sunscreen that is 30, this means that you can stay in the sun 30 times longer before you burn. Sunscreen acts as bullet proof vest against the sun.
Coral Reefs need to be preserved for many reasons. In this paper I will discuss a
The oceans need to be protected because it is where life began and if not taken care of, life as we know it will end. When dangerous substances go into the ocean, ecosystems are suffer and become endangered along with lives of people and of marine life. Surfrider Foundation recognizes the importance of protecting and preserving the quality and biodiversity of the world's coasts because they are truly irreplaceable. There is also historical evidence of ocean pollution being present in the past, but the problem still lingers today. Heal the Bay discovered that,“Did you know there is a DDT and PCB hot spot off the coast of Palos Verdes? This superfund site (which indicates it's one of the most polluted places in the United States), is left over from a 1930's era chemical plant. Because DDT takes so long to break down in the marine environment, it persists to this day, contaminating certain species of fish. There are also highly polluted sediments in the Long Beach area, a sign of the heavy shipping in the port. Heal the Bay works on developing effective capping and removal plans to keep those toxins from spreading” (Heal the Bay). DDT is still highly concentrated in the South Bay area and still contaminating different species of fish. Even after more than 80 years DDT, a toxic insecticide, is still very concentrated and during upwellings, DDT particles come back up and continue to harm marine life. If humans are careless about what is thrown on the floor or sprayed on lawns, it can lead to disastrous affects when it comes to the condition of the ocean's ecosystems, and can endanger life itself leading to a problem that only we can mend.
People from all over the world go to beautiful beaches that are filled with water as clear as ice or as beautiful as diamonds. But, what will happen if we do not conserve the appealing sites that draw attraction to the public? Contaminated beaches has become a controversial issue to the public because of the causal problem, the harm to the people and marine animals, the government agencies supporting or opposing pollution, and the industries involved in creating such unlawful decisions. To create and find a solution, we must first find the core to the problem.