When we plunge into a coral-rich sea, we must pay attention to what we apply to our skin to protect ourselves from sunburn. Some sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a molecule that is very active against the sun’s harmful rays but toxic to corals. Recent research has revealed the chemical mechanisms of this reaction. Coral polyps absorb the substance and break it up into smaller molecules that become harmful when exposed to sunlight. This is a threat to the health of these very important organisms on top of bleaching, an unfortunate consequence of the global warming that affects corals in various parts of the world. For this reason, in some tropical countries where there are beautiful coral reefs, such as Hawaii, oxybenzone creams are no longer on the market.
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