Homosalate is a lipophilic chemical that readily accumulates in the fatty tissues of marine organisms, concentrating as it moves up the food chain. In corals, it disrupts cellular membranes and interferes with the symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and their zooxanthellae algae, leading to bleaching. Research shows homosalate acts as a potent endocrine disruptor, mimicking hormones and interfering with reproductive systems in fish, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife. It has been detected in coral reef ecosystems at concentrations that cause developmental abnormalities in coral larvae and impair their ability to attach to substrates, preventing new coral growth.