SEPTEMBER 10, 2016
HEL: Encourages You
To Sign The Petition

Join The Fight to Ban the Sale of Coral Damaging Sunscreenin Hawaii ...
SIGN THE PETITION HERE
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HEL Website adds
"More Media"

More HEL in the news leads to "More Media" on our Website! Click the link below or over the Donate Button Above ...
MORE MEDIA
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More Media Coverage
from 2016 International
Coral Reef Symposium

Last Week, Dr. Downs and collabotators released new data on the extent of sunscreen polution in Hawaii waters and the threat to its coral reefs ...
Links to their coverage below:

~ Civil Beat (Check your Sunscreen)
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~ Star Advisor (Coral Bleaching)
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~ Honolulu Magazine (Killing Reefs)
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~ Civil Beat (Senator to propose ban)
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~ KITV (Senator Espero proposal)

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JUNE 28, 2016
State of Hawaii
Responds to HEL
Press Conference

Proposes legislation to ban oxybenzone
from the State
READ MORE HERE
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JUNE 26, 2016
Hawaii Public
Radio Interviews
Craig Downs, PhD

To listen to the interview, Play the video to the left of this headline!
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JUNE 19, 2016
Illegal Cyanide Fishing Decimating Coral Reefs
Half of Saltwater Aquarium Fish in U.S. Exposed to Cyanide as Part of Capture for Pet Trade
READ/DOWNLOAD ABOUT
THE FINDINGS HERE
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MAY 30, 2016
HEL cosigns letter to U.S. EPA’s Administrator McCarthy
Improvements to the reporting system for wildlife sickened and killed by pesticides requested by 70 organizations

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MAY 21, 2016
A Look Ahead to June's 13th International Coral Reef Symposium
Coral Reef Risk and Sunscreen and the State of the World's Coral Reefs to be Under the Spotlight
READ THE UPDATE HERE
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MARCH 13, 2016
Alert Diver Magazine features article by
Craig Downs, PhD
New article written by Dr. Downs on Sunscreen Pollution in Alert Diver Magazine!
READ THE STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 13, 2015
SIRIUS XM Interviews
Craig Downs, PhD

To listen to an exerpt from the interview,
Play the video to the left of this headline!

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NOVEMBER 9, 2015
HEL Scientific Paper
Reaches Over
Half A Billion People

Over 400 English-language outlets, and same number of non-English-language outlets

FOLLOW THE LINKS HERE
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NOVEMBER 5, 2015
Science From HEL
Makes Time Magazine
"12 Things You
Must Know" List

Our Story About common chemical in sunscreen lotion posing an threat to coral and coral reefs gains national attention

READ THE GRAPHIC NOW HEREDOWNLOAD THE PDF GRAPHIC HERE

GO TO THE TIME STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 20, 2015
New Study: Coral Reefs Under Attack From Sunscreen Chemical

A team of marine scientists published a study demonstrating that a common chemical in sunscreen lotion poses an ecological and existential threat to coral and coral reefs.

READ ABOUT IT NOW HEREDOWNLOAD THE PDF STUDY HERE
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JULY 10, 2015
Read the Study: Chemical (Nonylphenol) Toxic to Coral Reef Fish

This Scientific study combines the efforts of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory and Aquaculture Research Institute of the School of Marine Sciences atthe University of Maine.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF STUDY HERE
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JULY 7, 2015
Plastic Bag Chemical Threatens Marine Conservation and
Human Health

PRESS RELEASE!: Scientific study shows that a chemical in plastic bags made to U.S. FDA food-grade specifications can leach from the bag into seawater at such high concentrations that it can be deadly to fish.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF PRESS RELEASE HERE
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OCTOBER 18, 2014
Haereticus interviewed
in new documentary
about Neonicotinoid pesticides

Earth Focus presents "Neonicotinoids: The New DDT?" a report investigating the science and controversy behind neonciotinoids, insecticides used on some 200 million acres of US cropland as well as in common home and garden products.

WATCH IT ON OUR SITE HERE

SEE IT ON YOUTUBE HERE

DOWNLOAD THE PDF PRESS RELEASE HERE
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SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
HEL Co-authors
Follow-up on Systemic
Pesticide Toxicity

HEL co-authors a second scientific paper regarding systemic pesticides.  This second paper explains the trends, applications, and mechanism of toxicity of these pesticides to both target organisms (pest insects) and non-target animals, including honeybees to blue crabs

LINK TO SUMMARY / DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

DOWNLOAD THE PDF DIRECTLY HERE
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JULY 3, 2014
Pesticides and Biodiversity paper
co-authored by HEL

HEL co-authors scientific paper on the risks of neonicotinoid and fipronil pesticides to biodiversity and ecological processes – especially marine processess.

READ/DOWNLOAD THE PAGE HERE
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JUNE 25, 2014
HEL contributes to
World Report on Systemic Pesticides

HEL contribution to the World Integrated Assessment Report on Systemic Pesticides highlights its impact to marine and coastal ecosystems. HEL scientist was one of the 29 scientists on the international Task Force that drafted the Report.

READ/DOWNLOAD THE PAGE HERE
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HEL posts 2013
Tax Return

It isn't the most glamorous way to celebrate "Star Wars Day" (May the Fourth Be With You!) ... but it is a part of our world-saving work, it complies with IRS regulations, and the documents can be downloaded as PDFs.

JUMP TO THE PAGE HERE
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HEL co-signs letter to U.S. EPA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on pesticide effects on migratory birds

Haereticus Environmental Laboratory joins 11 other groups wanting to work together, share information and create robust protections for migratory birds

READ/DOWNLOAD THE LETTER HERE
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MARCH 2, 2014
Haereticus co-signs
letter challenging the Environmental Impact Statement by Oyster Industry to use Imidacloprid to control Burrowing Shrimp

Haereticus Environmental Laboratory co-signed a February 14, 2014 letter from The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to Derek Rockett of the Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Program. The letter addresses concerns that the Plauche & Carr Risk Assessment provides inaccurate conclusions which will adversely influence the EIS scoping process.

READ/DOWNLOAD THE LETTER HERE
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Press release issued for Sunscreen chemical threat to coral reefs

Haeretcis discovers a chemical causing corals to bleach, resulting in DNA damage to corals, and it is especially toxic to juvenile corals.  This chemical may be a serious threat to both coral reef conservation, and coral reef restoration.

READ MORE HERE
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JANUARY 6, 2014
Haereticus scientists discovery: Sunscreen chemical in soaps and body fragrances pose threat to coral reefs

Benzophenone-2 is used as an ultraviolent light protector for liquid products such as laundry detergents, soaps and shampoos, and body fragrances.  It enters into the environment via 2 major routes: (a) coming off our bodies when we get into the water to swim and (b) as waste-water run-off from sewage outfalls, surface and groundwater intrusions on to coral reefs from cess pits, shallow septic leach fields, and greywater discharges from boats.  Haeretcis discovered that this chemical causes corals to bleach, it results in DNA damage to corals, and is especially toxic to juvenile corals.  This chemical may be a serious threat to both coral reef conservation, and coral reef restoration.

GET THE WHOLE STORY HERE
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DECEMBER 15, 2013
Haereticus scientists publish research of light stress and heat stress on bleached coral reefs

This scientific paper, regarding how light stress and heat stress induce different injuries in corals that undergo coral bleaching, will help scientists understand and predict consequences to coral reefs in response to climate change events. This paper was co-authored by scientists from Scotland, Israel, the University of Hawaii, the University of Central Florida, Florida State University, and the U.S. federal government.

DOWNLOAD THE PAPER IN PDF FORMAT HERE
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APRIL 6, 2013
Final Report for HEL's investigative work for the western coast of Maui, Hawaii

This was part of a project that was led by the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. HEL’s task was to determine if there were pollutants in bays and beaches that contained corals and coral reefs, and whether these pollutants might be having a toxic impact the surrounding biota.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE
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NOVEMBER 12, 2012
Day in the Life
of a Scientist

Tim Grollimund spends a day with Dr. Craig Downs, the leading organizer of TGCR, and a prolific researcher on reef ecology, from the Keys to Micronesia. Learn more about the three phases of the process: Investigation, Mitigation and Restoration.

READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 1, 2012
Join the mission!

We are dedicated to conserving and restoring the world's threatened habitats and resources. You can now help the cause of our non-profit scientific organization by making a donation on our new donation page today!

DONATE NOW!
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JUNE 20, 2012
Protect Yourself,
Protect the Reef!

After six years of research involving sunscreen lotion compounds and their adverse effects on corals and coral reefs, the U.S. National Park Service has launched a campaign to reduce exposure of coral reefs to sunscreen lotion residue. Available as a PDF by clicking below, learn more about the impact of sunscreens on coral reefs and how you can protect yourself, while being more reef friendly.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PDF
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Investigation in Images

Browse the ALL NEW Environmental Snapshots
for a visual tour of Haerereticus Environmental Laboratory in action! See coral reefs, landscapes, divers and more!.

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO
ENVIRONMENTAL SNAPSHOTS
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APRIL 24, 2012
Threat Assessment Workshop slated for first week of June, 2012

In a continued effort to equip resource managers with tools to mitigate and conserve coral health, the Coral Disease and Health Consortium (CDHC) is hosting a training workshop: Practical Methods for Conducting Threat Assessment for Reef Managers. The workshop will be held June 3-7, 2012 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
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APRIL 14, 2012
Nine Environmental Investigations

Read feature stories on many important topics such as the state of Southeast Florida Sea Turtles.

Travel to coral reefs around the world through our look at locations such as Puerto Rico, Micronesia, Aqaba and Hawaii!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
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APRIL 14, 2012
Redesigned Haereticus website goes live

It's finally here ... Browse, read and grab a PDF of your favorite stories! Grab a wonderful glimpse of coral reefs from around the world. Which reefs are thriving? Which ones are declining or even in detrimental states?

Each one of our assays and investigations are inspired by our commitment desire to improve awareness of the state of natural environmental habitats, in order to conserve and restore threatened habitats and resources.
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Our Vision
Many ecosystems across the globe are in a challenged or declining condition. This ecological degradation has adverse consequences to human health and community stability. While steps have been made in trying to understand the nature of these changes in order to mitigate adverse impacts, there are few concerted and focused efforts that couple basic scientific research with environmental forensic methods. Information generated from this synergistic approach, coupled with collaboration between governments, community groups, institutions and private businesses can lead to better management policies and practices for restoration and conservation efforts, thereby improving the condition of ecosystems and public health.

Our efforts in environmental investigations, environmental biotechnologies and scientific research have, in part, been funded by the following:
> The Summit Foundation
> World Wildlife Fund
> The Nature Conservancy
> U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
> The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation