Why bother?

Today there are between 17 and 23 million surfers worldwide. That's incredible! It's great that this sport/lifestyle has become so popular but it also means that nature has suffered a great deal compared to when surfing was first invented. Although wave gardens and more of the sort are being increasingly developed, real surf like it first started out will always be in the ocean with mother nature. So why is it that today the need to discuss the toxicity of surfing exists? Surfers are entirely dependent on nature but still it is being threatened by everything involved in the surf industry. And when I say everything, I mean it. From surfboards to sunscreens; they all have a dramatic impact on the environment.

This infographic by Envirosurfer explains it all and it reveals some very alarming facts which read as following:

Surfboards
- 400,000 new surfboards are made each year from toxic foams and synthetic resins.
- During shaping, 20% of the foam is wasted and ends up in landfills.
- Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and dangerous isocyanates are found in polyurethane blanks.
- Majority of fins and fin plugs are made from polyester resin and fiberglass or petroleum based plastic.

Wetsuits
- 250 tons of neoprene is scrapped each and every year.
- Wetsuits are made with toxic chemicals, including PVC. PVC is the most toxic plastic for our health and environment.
- Made from neoprene, a synthetic rubber produced from petroleum products.
- Glue and solvents used in the lamination and gluing process evaporate and pollute the atmosphere.
- Not biodegradable.

Surf wax
- 6 million bars of wax are used each and every year.
- Surf wax is commonly made from oil by-products. Its environmental effect are felt by all kinds of marine organisms.

Sunscreen
- 6, 000 tons of sunscreen ends up in the ocean each year. It bleaches coral and threatens 10% of coral reefs worldwide.
- Sunscreen chemicals awaken dormant viruses in symbiotic algae, causing it to burst, which kills the coral and spreads the virus.
- Poisonous ingredients: sunscreens contain benzophenone, homosalate and octinoxate which disrupt our hormone levels while Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 course DNA damage when exposed to sunlight.
- 4 out 5 sunscreens contain chemicals that may pose health risks.
- Oxybenzone: a chemical ingredient found in sunscreens. It's been linked to cell damage, allergies and hormone disruption.

This infographic makes surfers look like monsters but my blog is here to show you how we can turn it around. And not to forget that a lot of progress and improvement has already been made a by innovative and critical thinkers, which are leading the path to the green wave!

Infographic source:
"The Toxicity Of Surfing Infographic By Envirosurfer." Envirosurfer. 3 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Jan. 2015. <http://www.greensurfshop.com/surfing-inforgraphic/>.