Parabens are preservatives that persist in ocean water and accumulate in coral reef ecosystems. They cause coral bleaching by disrupting the delicate symbiosis between corals and their photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Parabens are potent endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in marine organisms, causing reproductive failures, developmental abnormalities, and decreased fertility in fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Research shows parabens damage coral DNA, impair larval development, and reduce coral growth rates. They also weaken coral immune systems, making reefs more susceptible to disease outbreaks and reducing their resilience to environmental stressors like warming ocean temperatures.