Hawaii just banned your favorite sunscreen to protect its coral reefs | AP

State legislators passed a law in May prohibiting skin care companies from selling and distributing sunscreens. which contain two chemicals deemed harmful to coral reefs. The bill has been challenged by various companies and professional associations and even some dermatologists, who fear that the ban may discourage people from wearing sunscreen at all.

But Governor David Ige (D) signed the bill on Tuesday. the state to enact a law to protect marine ecosystems by banning such sunscreens.

The Ban – Described by State Sen. Mike Gabbard (D) as "A Leading Law in the World" – Comes into Force in 2021 [19659002] The Bill Introduced by Gabbard , SB 2571, states that the chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, "have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and residential ecosystems of Hawaii." The legislation aims to keep sunscreens that contain these chemicals. However, the products would still be available to those who have a prescription from a licensed health care provider, depending on the legislation.

"Studies have documented the negative impact of these chemicals on corals and other forms of marine life" in one report. "Our natural environment is fragile and our own interaction with the land can have lasting impacts.This new law is only one step towards protecting the health and resilience of coral reefs from all over the world. Hawaii. "

State Representative Chris Lee (D) said," In my life, our planet has lost about half of its coral reefs.We must take steps to ensure we can protect the other half as best as possible because we know that time is against us. "

According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, coral reefs are crucial In addition to protecting marine creatures, the Smithsonian said reefs provide jobs in the fields of food, medicine and tourism, worth $ 30 to $ 172 billion a year

. are also the biggest threat to coral reefs, "according to the Smithsonian. "Overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution, warming, changing ocean chemistry and invasive species are wreaking havoc. In some places, the reefs have been completely destroyed, and in many places the reefs are today a pale shadow of what they once were. "

Environmental organizations argue that some sunscreens – which have shown research can wash skin in the water to swim or bathe – can be toxic to coral reefs.

" The legislator also finds that the environmental contamination of oxybenzone and octinoxate persists in the coastal waters of Hawaii, the contamination being constantly renewed and renewed daily by swimmers and the Star-Advertiser reported that ABC Stores, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the Personal Care Products Council and Bayer, which manufactures Coppertone sunscreens, are opposed to the law

Jay Sirois, director of regulatory affairs for an association representing sunscreen manufacturers, recently told NPR: "We are storing a product or products. . . Bayer said in a statement in May that the company intends to comply with the legislation, but that "the elimination of the use of sunscreen ingredients considered safe and effective by the FDA with a long history of use not only restricts consumer choice, but is also at odds with efforts to prevent skin cancer.What has been scientifically proven is that Exposure to the sun's UV rays causes skin cancer.And sunscreen is one of the most effective ways of protecting oneself from UV rays, in addition to wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and sunglasses. sun and stay in the shade. "

Edgewell Personal Care Manufactures Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreens" Some of our products contain FDA-approved amounts of oxybenzone and octinoxate , active ingredients that are con us to protect the skin against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light and provide broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, "said the company. "The ingredients in our products are clearly in the active ingredients on the label so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.As always, we will continue to comply with all relevant regulations regarding the product. oxybenzone and octinoxate. "

Johnson & Johnson, owner of Neutrogena, endorsed the position of its commercial organization, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. The association said that "the health, safety and well-being of millions of Hawaiian residents and tourists have been severely compromised" by the SB 2571, which aims to ban "at least 70% of sunscreens on the market today. " "Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that excessive sun exposure without effective sunscreen increases the risk of developing skin cancer in adults and children," the association said in a statement released in May. . "The ban on oxybenzone and octinoxate – key ingredients in effective solar filters on the market – will drastically and unnecessarily reduce the selection of safe and effective sunscreen products offered to residents and to visitors. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, found in the majority of sunscreens, are safe and effective active ingredients recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as important aids in reducing the risk of developing cancer of the skin, the most common cancer in the United States "