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Hawaii Bans Sunscreens That Hurt Coral Reefs (popularmechanics.com)
In early May, Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill that would prohibit the sale of over-the-counter sunscreens containing chemicals that contribute to the destruction of the state's coral reefs and other ocean life. Hawaii Governor David Ige signed the bill this week, making the ban official. Popular Mechanics reports: Hawaii is the first U.S. state to pass a legislation banning the sale of sunscreen containing [oxybenzone and octinoxate]. The bill will go into effect on January 1, 2021. "We are blessed in Hawaii to be home of some of the most beautiful natural resources on the planet," Ige said at the bill signing, according to The Huffington Post. "But our natural environment is fragile and our own interaction with the Earth can have everlasting impacts, and this bill is a small first step worldwide to really caring about our corals and our reefs in a way that no one else anywhere in the world has done."
A 2015 study conducted by scientists at the University of Central Florida found that oxybenzone, a common UV-filtering compound, kills the coral, causes DNA damage in the coral's adult stage, and deforms the DNA in the larval stage, hindering its development. A separate 2015 study, published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology and conducted by biologist Craig Downs, also found that the chemicals produced water pollution and had damning effects on the coral reefs. In 2012, Women's Health reported that oxybenzone and octinoxate may actually be harmful to humans as well, not just coral reefs. According to the publication, when the skin absorbs oxybenzone, it can cause an eczema-like allergic reaction and disrupt hormone levels. Octinoxate may damage skin cells and lead to premature aging.
A 2015 study conducted by scientists at the University of Central Florida found that oxybenzone, a common UV-filtering compound, kills the coral, causes DNA damage in the coral's adult stage, and deforms the DNA in the larval stage, hindering its development. A separate 2015 study, published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology and conducted by biologist Craig Downs, also found that the chemicals produced water pollution and had damning effects on the coral reefs. In 2012, Women's Health reported that oxybenzone and octinoxate may actually be harmful to humans as well, not just coral reefs. According to the publication, when the skin absorbs oxybenzone, it can cause an eczema-like allergic reaction and disrupt hormone levels. Octinoxate may damage skin cells and lead to premature aging.
Sunscreen is only one factor out of several, but you have to start somewhere.
TFS links to a study (well, an article about a study at least) that suggests that researchers did show that those particular chemicals were harmful to coral reefs. Maybe you could argue that the amounts needed to be harmful exceed what a reef would ever be exposed to, but it seems it does cause problems.
Hawaii has several coral-lined bays where they don't permit boats. Their exposure to oil, fuel, etc. would be quite minimal relative to other reefs. However, they do see a large number of tourists, many of whom will be wearing sunscreen.
And before someone goes off about people getting skin cancer, there are several types of sunscreen that don't use either chemical and are available in high-SPF varieties. I'm not sure how easy it will be to enforce any of this. The last time I was in Hawaii there was plenty of litter on some of their beaches. If people can't even be expected to pick up after themselves, they won't be bothered to make sure they're not using the wrong kind of sunscreen.
Reavers, and they've been officially denied by the alliance, much as the anthropogenic malady that plagues the bluest planet.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
Just do what I do: Use titanium dioxide and paint your face like a Juggalo. You will not only be protected from the harming rays, but you'll get all the girls. Well, not "all", but the ones who have really bad self-image. Which are basically the only ones we're going to get anyway, so... But at least you won't have to worry about skin cancer!
You are welcome on my lawn.
PopeRatzo = fake name
Aw shit! I thought he was a real Pope.
Ratzo mate, you're dead to me now.
SJW n. One who posts facts.