{"id":21412,"date":"2024-03-26T10:45:14","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T14:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=19324"},"modified":"2024-08-06T13:43:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T17:43:35","slug":"can-fish-bones-protect-us-from-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/can-fish-bones-protect-us-from-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Fish Bones Protect Us from the Sun?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Sunscreen shields us from harmful UV radiation, but some ingredients in traditional sunscreens are harmful to the environment and people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may have seen news articles about certain sunscreens causing coral bleaching or harm to marine life. The ingredient responsible for this damage is the UV-filter, the most harmful of which is thought to be zinc oxide nanoparticles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we need UV-filters to make effective sunscreens that keep us safe. Scientists have found a natural product with light-filtering properties \u2014 and it happens to be a byproduct of fish bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The product is natural calcium phosphate, which can make up to 40% of fish bone weight. In total, the fisheries of the world create 125 megatons of fish byproduct every year, so there are massive amounts of this natural calcium phosphate that could be put to good use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside of fisheries, calcium is found in water, soils, plants, and animals. Due to its light-filtering qualities and its natural place in the biosphere, this plentiful fishbone byproduct could be a sustainable alternative to harmful UV filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But does it have any toxic effects on marine life? And, overall, is it more sustainable than zinc oxide nanoparticles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n