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Beach lovers are seen in Waikiki. (Caleb Jones / AP File)
From Banana Boat to Coppertone, leading sunscreen brands will soon need to revamp their products or stop selling them in Hawaii.
State legislators have passed a law banning skin care companies from selling and distributing sunscreens on islands that contain two chemicals deemed damaging to coral reefs. The bill is being challenged by various companies and business associations and even some dermatologists, who fear that the ban may discourage people from wearing sunscreen at all.
Governor David Ige (D) is expected to sign the bill this week. Hawaii is the first state to enact a law to protect marine ecosystems by banning such sunscreens
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Bill, SB 2571, states that chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, "have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and residential ecosystems of Canada. 39; Hawaii. " The legislation aims to keep sunscreens that contain these chemicals out of store shelves. However, the products would still be available to those who have a prescription from a licensed health care provider, depending on the legislation.
Senator Mike Gabbard (D), who introduced the bill, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii is definitely at the forefront in banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens, "said Mr. Gabbard in an email to the newspaper. "When you think about it, our paradise island, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to establish the gold standard for the world to follow. It will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life and human health.
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, coral reefs are crucial to marine and human life
. According to the Smithsonian, sea creatures provide jobs in food, medicine and tourism, for example, worth $ 30 to $ 172 billion a year.
"Unfortunately, people 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 the pale shadow of what they once were.
Environmental organizations claim that some sunscreens can be removed from the skin in the water. swim or swim – can be toxic to coral reefs.
SB 2471 states:
Oxybenzone and octinoxate lead to the death of developing corals; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to corals and other marine organisms. It has also been shown that these chemicals degrade the resilience and ability of corals to adapt to climate change factors and inhibit the recruitment of new corals. In addition, oxybenzone and octinoxate appear to increase the likelihood of endocrine disruption.
"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 every day by swimmers and fishers. According to the bill, the Star-Advertiser reported that the proposed law, which would come into force in 2021, has been challenged by ABC Stores, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the House of Commons. Hawaii's trade, the Personal Care Products Council and Bayer, which manufactures sunscreens by Coppertone.
Jay Sirois, director of regulatory affairs for an association representing sunscreen manufacturers, recently told NPR: "We are removing a product, or products … that have been shown over time to be safe and secure. effective "against the adverse effects of the sun.
Bayer said in a statement in May that the company intends to comply with the legislation, but that" eliminate the use of ingredients Solar judged to be safe and effective by the FDA with a long history of use not only limits the consumer's choice but is also contrary to skin cancer prevention efforts. 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 to protect yourself from UV rays, in addition to wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and staying 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 designed to protect 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, has endorsed the position of its commercial organization, 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 "
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park in Hawaii. (Caleb Jones / AP)
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