Sunscreen chemicals, particularly those containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, pose threats to coral reefs. Now, a new study suggests that another chemical found in sunscreen and other personal care products, octocrylene, could also be harmful to corals. However, the ocean is dynamic and capable of diluting octocrylene that humans introduce into seawater near corals. Additionally, the corals had elevated levels of the metabolite acylcarnitine, which indicates that the octocrylene had disrupted the corals' physiology. The well-documented impacts of common sunscreen chemicals on coral reefs created a market for "reef safe" sunscreens.

Source: Forbes January 12, 2019 21:00 UTC