According to findings, published in the journal Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, even tiny amounts of oxybenzone bleaches and breaks down corals. Even worse, the chemical becomes more potent when it is exposed to light. And even non-beachgoers could be part of the problem. Though the adverse effects of sunscreen on coral had the biggest impact for sources within less than half a mile, sunscreen in any wastewater—even washed off in sinks and showers far from the shore—could worsen the issue.
Source: Sunscreen May Be Destroying Coral Reefs | Smart News | Smithsonian
