A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin has revealed the serious impact of sunscreens on the marine environment. Chemical UV filters contained in these products cause coral deformation, bleaching and negatively affect the reproductive abilities of fish, writes snob.ru.

Scientists have found that with a single use of cream, a person applies an average of 36 grams of the product, with half of this amount being washed off into the water. On the scale of a beach with a thousand vacationers, this can lead to up to 35 kilograms of cosmetic product ending up in the ocean. According to an analysis of 110 scientific papers, between 6 thousand and 14 thousand tons of sunscreen end up on coral reefs every year.

Lead researcher Anneliese Hodge stresses that modern science is only just beginning to understand the scale of the impact of these chemicals on marine ecosystems. Particularly alarming is the discovery of UV filters not only in popular tourist areas but also in remote regions, including Antarctica.

Scientists have yet to study the ability of these substances to bioaccumulate in food chains and assess the full range of their impact on marine life.