sunscreens almost always figure in a swimmer's paraphernalia. While it protects the skin from ultraviolet rays of the sun, it also causes considerable damage to marine life. If the idea appears far-fetched, consider this: a recent study has found that chemicals in sunscreen products threaten about 10 per cent of coral reefs worldwide.

Tropical reefs die due to bleaching. Scientists at the Polytechnic University, Italy, who carried out the study, say chemical compounds in sunscreen products, even at extremely low concentrations