11-17-2017, 08:12 AM
Here is the study that involves Hawaii: Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands (published in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology).
The conclusions drawn from the study are not supported by the evidence reported in the study.
The study concluded oxybenzone was toxic to planulae and cultured cells in artificial seawater when exposed to high concentrations of oxybenzone. The planulae were collected from waters near Israel, and the cultured cells came from a variety of private companies as well as a research laboratory in the Florida Keys. None of the planulae or cultured cells were collected from Hawaiian corals. This study is what is called an in vitro (in glass) study rather than in vivo (in organism). The study did not look at the affect of oxybenzone in corals found in Hawaiian waters, however the study did report some cursory data on the concentrations of oxybenzone found in Maunalua Bay on Oahu and Kapalua Bay and Kahekili Beach Park on Maui. All of the oxybenzone concentrations recorded from these locations in Hawaii were several orders of magnitude beneath the studies own regression estimates for LC50 (concentration expected to cause death in 50 % of the population).
There is no doubt that at high concentrations, in artificial seawater, in aquarium tanks oxybenzone negatively affects coral growth and development - as reported in this study, however, that finding has no relevance to corals in Hawaiian waters.
Is this (oxybenzone based sunscreens) what is killing our reefs? If we stop wearing oxybenzone based sunscreen will we see a reduction in reef die-offs in Hawaiian waters?
There is absolutely no data published anywhere to suggest that we should stop wearing oxybenzone based sunscreen because of some [imagined] benefit to the reefs.
There are many threats to reef die offs such as climate change, overfishing and pollution. We should be looking at real solutions which might make a meaningful difference instead of using oxybenzone based sunscreens as a scapegoat and going home at the end of the day feeling proud of ourselves.
The conclusions drawn from the study are not supported by the evidence reported in the study.
The study concluded oxybenzone was toxic to planulae and cultured cells in artificial seawater when exposed to high concentrations of oxybenzone. The planulae were collected from waters near Israel, and the cultured cells came from a variety of private companies as well as a research laboratory in the Florida Keys. None of the planulae or cultured cells were collected from Hawaiian corals. This study is what is called an in vitro (in glass) study rather than in vivo (in organism). The study did not look at the affect of oxybenzone in corals found in Hawaiian waters, however the study did report some cursory data on the concentrations of oxybenzone found in Maunalua Bay on Oahu and Kapalua Bay and Kahekili Beach Park on Maui. All of the oxybenzone concentrations recorded from these locations in Hawaii were several orders of magnitude beneath the studies own regression estimates for LC50 (concentration expected to cause death in 50 % of the population).
There is no doubt that at high concentrations, in artificial seawater, in aquarium tanks oxybenzone negatively affects coral growth and development - as reported in this study, however, that finding has no relevance to corals in Hawaiian waters.
Is this (oxybenzone based sunscreens) what is killing our reefs? If we stop wearing oxybenzone based sunscreen will we see a reduction in reef die-offs in Hawaiian waters?
There is absolutely no data published anywhere to suggest that we should stop wearing oxybenzone based sunscreen because of some [imagined] benefit to the reefs.
There are many threats to reef die offs such as climate change, overfishing and pollution. We should be looking at real solutions which might make a meaningful difference instead of using oxybenzone based sunscreens as a scapegoat and going home at the end of the day feeling proud of ourselves.