Mission Secure Against Server Vulnerabilities

Every week we read about a new information technology security issue. Many are rooted in human negligence--important security patches not being applied and using trivial password credentials are only two examples. Occasionally we learn of highly technical vulnerabilities. Earlier this year, the vulnerabilities Spectre and Meltdown arose. Vulnerabilities of this type exploit a performance enhancement technique, called speculative execution, that has been included in almost all processor chips for many years.

The way residents and tourists protect themselves from the sun's harmful UV rays may change soon in some tropical vacation destinations. In response to a 2015 study by The University of Central Florida (UCF), lawmakers in both Hawaii and the Caribbean island of Bonaire passed bills this spring to prohibit the sale and distribution of sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. According to the UCF study, these chemicals are a contributing factor to the bleaching and degradation of coral reefs. If the bills are signed into law, they will go into effect on January 1, 2021. 

 

This photo shows a starkly bleached coral amongst a dead reef. Photo credit: 123rf.com.

The study by UCF indicates that these chemicals harm coral by causing damage to their DNA during the larval stage. The coral become trapped in their own skeletons and are unable to float in the ocean current and spread out. Oxybenzone and octinoxate also cause bleaching, which occurs when the nutritious and life-sustaining algae in coral is expelled, essentially causing them to starve to death. 

 

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are listed as the primary active ingredients in more than 3,500 of the most popular and top-rated brands of sunscreen, and unfortunately there aren't many alternatives that provide such potent protection against UV-rays. The harmful effects of oxybenzone to coral have been observed at concentrations of as little as 62 parts per trillion, which is about the equivalent of one drop in six Olympic-sized swimming pools. No new sunscreen ingredients have been approved by the FDA since the 1970s, when toxicity testing was not as extensive as it is today. 

 

While the most affected areas include popular tourist destinations, oxybenzone has been found in drinking water from Honolulu to Alaska, inside fish that are consumed by humans,

	Oxybenzone and octinoxate not only bleach, but also kill coral in their larval stage. Photo credit: 123rf.com.

and in the blood of 97% of Americans. Experts believe that an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen are deposited into the ocean each year, and the solution isn't as simple as abstaining from sunscreens that include these chemicals when you're at the beach. Much of the water that runs down shower drains is treated and deposited back in the ocean, so these chemicals can reach the coral whether you've been at the beach or working in your backyard. 

 

Coral reefs protect shorelines from wave impacts, which is particularly necessary in the event of tsunamis and hurricanes. This makes it vital that we restore these areas before the damage becomes too extensive to repair. Other factors that harm the coral reefs include ocean warming and sewage dumping. As an individual, the best way you can mitigate the issue is to choose naturally occurring mineral alternatives, such as those containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Alternatively, you can forego all hygienic products when you'll be in the ocean and opt instead to cover up with wet suits, rash guards, long sleeved clothing, and hats. You can also reduce your plastic waste, as many of these products end up in the ocean where they harm wildlife and contribute to pollution.