Hawaii Coral Reefs

The Hawaiian ban on sunscreen products that destroy coral reefs.

In the last three years, one fifth of the world's coral reefs have become extinct - and there is a rising sense that sunscreens play a part. Every year, from 6,000 to 14,000 tonnes of sunscreens slip into coral reefs and expose the beautiful marine eco-systems to chemical substances that can slay them.

Hawaii is surrounded by coral-rich coastlines. Thats why the insular state is about to become the first in the Nation to ban sunscreen containing oxybenzon and actinoxate, a chemical that some scientists and legislators say endangers coral reefs. A bill adopted in May states that oxybenzene and Octinoxat "have significant adverse effects on Hawaii's maritime environments and local eco-systems, as well as the coral reefs that shelter Hawaii ashore.

" It is said in the law that the chemical kills evolving corals, increases the whitening of corals (if these creatures become aware of environmental stress) and damages the polyps' gene. Hawaii's reefs are already threatened. Over the past few years, scientists have been documenting an unparalleled level of coral bleach.

A 2017 survey by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that 56 per cent of Big Island coral was whitened, as were 44 per cent of West Maui coral and 32 per cent of Oahu reefs. Hawaii's colourful reefs are a great attraction for visitors - and they are also essential for the vitality of marine life.

According to the Smithsonian, a fourth of marine life depends on reefs that provide nutrition and protection. In May, SB 2571, adopted by state legislators, would make it unlawful for Hawaiians to begin selling or distributing sunscreen products as of January 1, 2021 (unless they are prescription). The majority of sunscreen products on the markets, among them well-known names such as Coppertone and Banana Boat, contain oxybenzene and octinoxat as active substances.

Through their professional organisation, solar protection firms claim that the prohibition will make it more complicated for humans to defend themselves against the damaging impact of the solar radiation. However, there are quite simple ways to find "reef-safe" products. Firstly, while it appears that suntan lotions are poisonous to marine eco-systems, they are by no means the only menace to coral reefs.

Normally the live coral adenoids build a symmetrical relation with zooxanthelia, a colourful species of seaweed that synthesises sun light and CO2 into nutrition for the coral canals. These seaweed give the coral its violet and golden colour. When the waters in the coral are too hot, the zooxanthellas' metabolic processes turn into an overwhelming drive and begin to produce poison.

These adenoids push the seaweed out of its tissues and leave the corals behind with a hideous "bleached" sheen. The coral looses an important nutrient and becomes more vulnerable to fatal illness. Furthermore, the amount of CO2 we add to the atmospheric makes the ocean more acid, and this can make corals more squeamish.

Coral reefs are also unbelievably susceptible to over-fishing and coral harvest, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. However, Wiedenmann said in the scenes with many travellers that sunscreens could do extra damage. The New York Times reports that tonnes of sunscreens are washed away every year by people who swim in the sea - the reefs in Hawaii and the Caribbean, which are particularly affected by tourism:

The Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a non-profit organization, investigated Trunk Bay in St. John in 2015, where between 2,000 and 5,000 floats swam every morning and an estimated 6,000 lbs of sunscreens were dumped on the shore. In the same year, it found an averaging of 412 lbs of sunscreens was taken every morning on the Hanauma Bay coral cliff, a favorite snorkel spot in Oahu,[Hawaii], which attracts an averaging 2,600 floats every morning.

So while reducing the build-up of GHGs in the climate is the keys to reducing further oceans heating, environmentalists want to find other ways to mitigate the risks of coral damage, which includes the limitation of sunscreens. By 2021, if the bill is adopted, Hawaiians will not be able to find populairly available chemical containing the polluting chemical unless the big sun protection companies re-formulate their product by that year.

If you want to preserve your coral without damaging it, you have to look for "reef-safe" biologically degradable sunscreen agents containing minerals (with zink oxides and titania ) instead of chemicals and without the use of a nanoparticle (and therefore referred to as "non-nano"). WIRCUTTER has investigated several alternatives and found that Thinksport SPF 50+ Sunscreen contains components endorsed by environmentists.

Use the Haereticus Environment Laboratory's check lists of known harmful substances - and make sure your sunscreens and sunscreens don't include them as ingredients: