Plastics and Parabens: How Cosmetics Affect Our Oceans
The pristine blue waters of Monterey Bay are home to a vibrant and diverse ecosystem of marine life, including migratory gray whales, endangered sea otters, and rare species of birds and fish. Carmel, our hometown, is perched at the southern tip of the Monterey peninsula. Living here, it’s nearly impossible not to feel a deep sense of stewardship for the delicate marine protected areas that surround our community.
But according to recent research, our oceans are in crisis -- and the cosmetic industry is one of the biggest culprits.
A beach in the Monterey Bay National Marine Preserve. Photo from Planet Ware.
Plastic pollution has long been identified as one of the ocean’s most pressing existential threats. You may have already read the disturbing headlines: Dead whales are washing up on shore with bellies full of plastic; a researcher just found trash at the furthest depths of the ocean ever reached by humans; and there’s a patch of plastic three times the size of France floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean right now.
But most recently, scientists have found evidence that the cosmetic products we use every day are polluting our oceans. Oftentimes, many of the chemical compounds present in our soaps, shampoos, lotions, deodorants, and other skincare products don’t fully break down in water treatment plants. Instead, they infiltrate the marine food chain, working their way up from tiny plankton to large predators like seals, whales, and polar bears. At the top of the food chain, these chemicals are stored in marine mammals’ fatty layer of blubber, where they continue to accumulate as the predators feed on smaller animals that have already been exposed to the pollutants.
A bottlenose dolphin swimming in the Bahamas. Dolphins in Florida had high concentrations of parabens in their blubber and other organs, according to the study. Photo from the Wild Dolphin Project.
In fact, in 2015, research in Environmental Science and Technology found a common cosmetic preservative in the bodies of dolphins, sea otters, and polar bears from United States coastal waters -- surprisingly, sometimes thousands of miles apart. These preservatives are called parabens, which are chemical compounds that have been used to extend the shelf life of skincare products for over 60 years. Today, parabens are present in almost every cosmetic product on the market, including lotions, perfumes, and antiperspirants. When we apply products that have parabens in them and later wash them off, research shows that they eventually end up in our oceans.
About 15 years ago, a controversial study linked human breast cancer with cosmetics containing parabens. The exact effects of parabens on people are still being researched, but scientists do know that parabens are estrogenic, meaning that they mimic female hormones and can disrupt the normal functioning of your endocrine system.
Scientists don’t know yet whether parabens will harm animals, but similar chemicals like PCBs and DDT have shown that our industrial products can cause damage to ocean ecosystems. One of the researchers concluded the Environmental Science and Technology article by stating: “This is yet another reminder that our own actions have unintended consequences for the health of the oceans.”
A sea otter in the harbor at Moss Landing, California, just north of Monterey. Scientists found parabens in their brain, liver, and kidney tissue. Photo from mongabay.com.
The problem, of course, is that cosmetic products are so ubiquitous. Many of us use shampoo, soap, makeup, and other skincare products every day. So how can we balance our need for personal hygiene with the potential consequences of the products we use?
In other words, how can we be better ocean stewards and help turn the tides of the beauty industry towards a more sustainable future? Here are some pointers:
Be a conscious consumer. Before you buy any new beauty product -- even products that claim to be “plant-derived” or “earth-friendly” -- check the label for any parabens. You should also avoid buying sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are highly toxic to coral and have been extensively linked to coral reef degradation.
Use all-natural, wholesome skincare whenever you can. For example, consider switching from a traditional lotion to a single-ingredient, plant-derived skin moisturizer like coconut oil or cocoa butter. By simplifying your beauty routine, you’ll know exactly what’s being absorbed into your body and you rely less on products that are detrimental to the environment.
Avoid plastic packaging. When shopping for cosmetics, look for glass or paper packaging; reusable or re-fillable packaging; or bioplastics that are fully compostable. Better yet, seek out products that don’t come in any packaging at all, like shampoo and conditioner bars! If you absolutely cannot avoid purchasing plastic, make sure the package is recyclable so it doesn’t end up in the ocean or in a landfill.
Support legislative efforts to reduce ocean pollution. For example, the government of California is currently working to ban the sale of sunscreens with the chemicals octinoxate and oxybenzone without a prescription because of the proven link between these chemicals and coral reef degradation. This law could help stymie the flow of toxins into the waters off the California coast. Likewise, you can help support efforts to ban single-use plastics, plastic bags, and the sale of certain chemicals in your community!