Hawaii to ban certain sunscreens harmful to coral reefs

[Schwob]

Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate:

- Hawaii to ban sunscreen harmful to corals

 

[Wookie]

Turns out Oxybenzone is also an endocrine disrupting chemical, leading to the formation of man-boobs. Last thing I need is bigger boobs.

 

[Jay]

Thanks for sharing this. I was completely unaware of it being an issue.

 

[flyboy08]

If they ban urine, I'll have to find another sport!

 

[falcon125]

Turns out people are bad for the environment. Coral loving scuba divers are killing the coral. Maybe they should ban scuba divers to help the coral.

 

[TMHeimer]

What about those bringing their own sunscreen from elsewhere? I would imagine if anyone plans a trip to Hawaii they probably pack sunscreen.

 

[RockiesFan]

It will probably coincide with an awareness campaign to avoid using sunscreens with those ingredients.

 

[drbill]

For a number of years I dove with Soleo sunscreen which is supposed to be reef friendly. Recognized the problem years ago and glad to see action being taken. However, what about all the swimmers slathered in sunscreen?

 

[k4kafka]

The oceans are very big places (see a map of the Pacific)...and although humans wearing minute amounts of lotion coating their skin (to save them from skin cancers) may have some small impact...I believe nature can probably handle it...Our oceans have bigger issues.

 

[RockiesFan]

The oceans do indeed have big issues, and swimmers caked in sunscreen on the reefs is only one significant part