A study has found that some chemicals in sunscreen are accumulating in Mediterranean seagrass.
Scientists discovered ultraviolet filters in the stems of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea.
The researchers think thecontamination is the result of recreational activities and waste discharges.
The Mediterranean Sea is impacted by port activities, water discharge and tourism.
There were different concentrations of sunscreen components, including oxybenzone, avobenzone 4-methyl, benzylidene camphor, and benzophenone-4.
The full impact of these chemicals on seagrass is unknown, but the researchers are concerned about potential harmful effects.
Prof. Nona Agawin said that if sunscreens affect the productivity of seagrasses beyond accumulation, we will have a problem.
In the coastal Mediterranean, Posidonia oceanica forms an extensive meadow and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ocean ecology. Seagrass meadow act as carbon stores and buffer coastal areas against erosion.
Certain UV-filtering sunscreen chemicals can have harmful effects on fish, turtles and dolphins, including disrupting their reproductive systems and harming their development.
The chemicals that affect coral reefs have been banned in some destinations. Legislation has yet to be introduced in Mediterranean countries.
The need for further research on the effects of UV-filtering chemicals on seagrasses is emphasized by the researchers.
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