It is undeniable that outdoor activity is one of the ways we reconnect with Mother Nature. From hiking in the mountains to diving in the deep blue sea, we experience nature in her real and pure form. We get to see a world entirely different from the one we are familiar with, and it’s fascinating to see scenery and creatures in their natural habitat. As we are enjoying our time outside, more often than not, we don’t realize how big of an environmental footprint we are creating.
Out of convenience during an outdoor trip, we often bring with us foreign items that do not belong in nature. Things like soap, shampoo, dishwashing soap, detergent, or even tissue paper. The problem is when used irresponsibly, these products can pollute and disrupt the existing natural ecosystem. 
Photo Credit: XL Catlin from Seaview Survey
According to research, every year, more than 14,000 tons of sunscreen are washed off into the oceans affecting coral reefs along thecoastal areas. Furthermore, cosmetics and skincare products also create chemical runoffs after being washed off from our bodies. It is estimated that 1 in 10 of the global coral reefs is affected by these chemical pollutants because they are located along the coastal, touristy areas.
One example is the UV-protecting chemical Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3 or BP-3) found in sunscreen lotion and many other body care products. This chemical is washed off into the ocean when we swim and can interfere with the growth of small corals, causing coral bleaching, change of DNA, and disruption in coral reproduction. At the same time, in fish, BP-3 acts as an endocrine disruptor resulting in reduced egg production and hatching. In other words, when we innocently put on sunscreen containing BP-3, we are harming many lives in the ocean as well.
Credit: Mrs. Homegrown from rootsimple.com
Another example is the littering of tissue paper in the wild. Although it is biodegradable, it still does not belong there. How long would it take to degrade and what it would be turned into is still not clear and depends a lot on the humidity in the area. In dry land, the paper can sit there for years without degrading. The issue is if one person starts to throw used tissue paper everywhere, it would set an example for other people to think that it is ok to follow. And by the time we know it, there could be a huge pile of tissue paper waiting to be degraded somewhere in the wild, ruining the scenery of the whole place.
The sacred Mother Nature is so sensitive. Every single action counts regardless of how big or small. It’s time to respect her the same way we respect ourselves. Leave No Trace Principles could be part of the solution. But more importantly we need to realize the role we play in mother Nature. Let’s stop playing an occasional visitor to this sacred place. We need to embrace a role of a host in nature as well. Let’s pay an extra attention to what we use and how we use them when we step into the wilderness. Because who knows how much longer we can still enjoy it if we don’t start taking care of Mother Earth now.
Citation
Downs, C. A., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Segal, R., Fauth, J., Knutson, S., Bronstein, O., and Loya, Y. (2015). Toxicopathological effects of the SUNSCREEN Uv Filter, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), on Coral PLANULAE and Cultured primary cells and its environmental contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 70(2), 265-288. doi:10.1007/s00244-015-0227-7
Leave no TRACE Canada – OUTDOOR Ethics [Build AWARENESS, Appreciation & respect for OUR WILDLANDS]. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.leavenotrace.ca/principles
LoFaso, A. (2020, February 22). Sunscreen pollution accelerating demise of coral reefs, experts say. Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://abcnews.go.com/International/sunscreen-pollution-accelerating-demise-coral-reefs-experts/story?id=68807099
WOOD, E. (2018, February). IMPACTS OF SUNSCREENS ON CORAL REEFS. doi:https://ambergriscaye.com/art6/ICRI_Sunscreen-2.pdf
Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City, M. (2014, August 03). Toilet paper in the woods: A rant and some advice. Retrieved May 10, 2021, from https://www.rootsimple.com/2014/08/toilet-paper-in-the-woods-a-rant-and-some-advice/
