Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Gilchrist, Sandra
Area of Concentration
Marine Biology
Abstract
Sunscreen and other skin care products are pollutants that enter the water via the skin of swimmers. “Reef safe” sunscreen is claimed by manufacturers to be safer for marine organisms. Reef safe sunscreens often lack known dangerous ingredients such as oxybenzone and nano-scale metal oxides. The purpose of this research is to establish if reef safe sunscreen is better for marine life by raising Lytechinus variegatus from gamete to embryo in three concentrations (0.0001%, 0.001%, and 0.01% by weight value) of both reef safe and standard sunscreens. There was no difference in the LC50 numbers of the reef safe and standard sunscreens. There was no significant difference in fertilization rate of eggs in reef safe and standard sunscreen solutions at the levels tested. Realistic levels are difficult to determine in an open reef system. Based on this research it cannot be said that reef safe sunscreens are safer for marine organisms than standard sunscreens. Further research in this area may lead to regulations concerning the pollutants in skin care products.
Recommended Citation
Marick, Paul, "REEF SAFE SUNSCREENS ARE NOT LESS TOXIC THAN STANDARD SUNSCREENS TO THE FERTILIZATION AND LARVAL SURVIVAL OF LYTECHINUS VARIEGATUS" (2018). Theses & ETDs. 5559.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5559