Written by Carleigh Stokes

*Aerial photo showing the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. // Image courtesy of NOAA.*

Humans reap the benefits of various personal care products (PCPs) and sunscreens daily, but what you may not realize is that there are many more harmful effects from these products for those living below the surface.

Toxic chemicals are in nearly every product you use in your daily skin/hair care routine. Some ingredients to look out for when shopping for environmentally-friendly products are oxybenzone (BP-3), octinoxate, methylparaben and propylparaben, as these chemicals pose a serious threat to the biodiversity and health of marine ecosystems. These chemicals reach the oceans and other marine ecosystems through a variety of ways. One of the most common methods for spread is when chemicals wash off your skin while you’re in the water.

Aerosol sprays are also one of the leading causes for chemical pollutants in aquatic environments. Increased levels of iron and nitrogen, two of the main components in most aerosol sprays, are causing the ocean to produce decreased levels of oxygen, affecting the speed of global warming and quality of life for aquatic and land animals.

In addition to the risk these chemicals have on marine life independently, they also pose an even greater effect when combined. Some combinations of already toxic chemicals can increase the harmful effects marine life endures.

Endocrine disruption is just one of the serious consequences marine life faces resulting from these chemicals ending up in our oceans. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) alter, weaken or change the hormonal system of a marine animal and can lead to skeletal deformities, reproductive issues, lowered immunity and developmental delays. Approximately 800 chemicals are known to be EDCs. Some EDCs that were considered to be non-toxic are now at such high concentrations in parts of the ocean that they are now deemed toxic. The tumble effects caused after these chemicals enter the water affect more than just the animals living in the water.

Although this may seem like a static problem, the effects are disastrous for sustaining marine health and biodiversity, as this not only affects animals living below the surface but all other animals that interact with and feed amidst them, including humans.

Another factor leading the harmful chemical concentrations in marine life are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT). Orcas and other cetacean species are especially affected by these chemicals when they are abundantly present in the mammal’s food source. The higher an animal is on the food chain, the higher concentration of POPs and DDTs found in their system. These chemicals can cause endocrine disruption as aforementioned as well as death. Studies and field examinations are currently being conducted to test for concentrations of certain chemicals in marine mammals.

Efforts to stop the spread of toxic chemicals in the oceans and other aquatic regions are still being made. One of the main factors in lowering their concentration in the waters is the use of Marine Protected Areas to limit human exposure to critical underwater ecosystems. You can help by avoiding personal care products and sunscreens that contain harmful chemicals. Educating yourself and spreading awareness to others of the dangers these toxic chemicals can cause to marine life and reef ecosystems is also imperative to stop the problem from worsening. Conservation starts with you!

Carleigh Stokes is an intern at AMSEAS working with our Business and Public Relations team.

Sources:

Fernandez, M. A. (2019, October 29). Populations Collapses in Marine Invertebrates Due to Endocrine Disruption: A Cause for Concern? Frontiers in Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00721

Ingre-Khans, E., Ågerstrand, M., & Rudén, C. (2017). Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the marine environment. In The Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (pp. 2, 6–7). Stockholm University. https://balticeye.org/globalassets/fokusomraden/farliga-amnen/edcs-in-the-marine-environment-report.pdf

Ito, T., Nenes, A., Johnson, M., Meskhidze, N. & Deutsch, C. (2016). Acceleration of oxygen decline in the tropical Pacific over the past decades by aerosol pollutants. Nature Geoscience, 9(6): 443–447. DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2717.

MarineSafe. (n.d.). Marine pollutants. MarineSafe. http://www.marinesafe.org/science-and-data/marine-pollutants-identified-by-science/

NOAA US. (2016). Sunscreen Chemicals and Coral Reefs. Noaa.gov. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

Port Townsend Marine Science Center. (n.d.). Contaminants in Orcas. Port Townsend Marine Science Center; Fort Worden State Park. https://ptmsc.org/programs/investigate/citizen-science/completed-projects/orca-project/contaminants-in-orcas

The Harmful Effects of Chemicals in Everyday Products on Marine Life