India, Feb. 20 -- Scientists have warned that sunscreen chemicals are accumulating in marine environments at alarming levels, posing a serious threat to marine life and coral reefs. A new review published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin highlights the need for urgent research into the impact of these pollutants, which persist in the ocean and could have far-reaching ecological consequences.

With global sunscreen sales rising rapidly, researchers estimated that between 6,000 and 14,000 tonnes of ultraviolet (UV) filters wash into coral reef zones every year. These chemicals enter the ocean directly from swimmers or through wastewater, where they act as pseudo-persistent pollutants - substances that are constantly replenished, making them...