The state of Hawaii recently passed legislation SB2571, which if signed into law by the Governor, will prohibit the sale of sunscreens and personal sun care protection products containing two chemicals - oxybenzone and octinoxate. These two chemicals are harmful to Hawaii’s marine ecosystems including its coral reefs that protect hundreds of miles of shoreline.
Some deleterious effects of these two chemicals include: mortality of growing corals, bleaching of coral reefs, endrocrine disruption and embryonic deformities in marine organisms and mammals. These chemicals enter and damage the marine environment due to being washed off swimmers and other beach goers.
If SB2471 is signed by the Governor, this Act will take effect on Jan 01, 2019. The state of Hawaii will become the first in the nation to address the harmful impacts of oxybenzone and octinoxate to coral reefs and marine life. Fox News TV immediately contacted Clean Ocean Action to hear about COA’s thoughts on this issue. On behalf of COA, Staff Scientist, Dr. Swarna Muthukrishnan concurred that these two chemicals indeed are harmful and should be avoided by choosing to use alternatives that pose less risk to the marine environment.
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