The tiny Pacific island nation of Palau will ban “reef-toxic” sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate and also lotions containing any of 10 chemicals linked to coral bleaching to because of concerns they may be harming one of the state’s biggest attraction – coral reefs.
Sunscreens containing minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide reflect the sun’s rays away from skin and are a good alternative to chemicals that could be harmful to ocean reefs. Up to 8 percent contain octinoxate, which often shows up on labels as octyl methoxycinnamate.
President Tommy Remengesau, a spokesman said that most of the sunscreens contains such chemicals which are toxic to corals and there are scientific evidence of this fact which can effect even in a minute dose.
The executive is anxious that Palau which lies within the north-west Pacific, east of the Philippines and immediately north of Australia is which recognition is coming at a value.
“On any given day that equates to gallons of sunscreen going into the ocean in Palau’s famous dive spots and snorkelling places,”saying this President Tommy Remengesau added “We’re just looking at what we can do to prevent pollution getting into the environment.”
There will be strict rule from 1 January 2020 that someone promoting sunscreen containing any of 10 banned chemical elements will face a $1,000 fine and carrying ned sunscreen into the rustic could have it confiscated.
There is a rule that visitors have to sign a promise stamped into their passport that they will respect the environment by following the order of banned commercial fishing from its waters. Last year, “Palau Pledge” introduced the requirment.
Other nations would be watching Palau’s move closely saying this Craig Downs, executive director at the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Hawaii added,
“It’s the first country to ban these chemicals from tourism. I think it’s great, they’re being proactive.”
Saying the chemicals used for UV protection had been largely unchanged for 50 years, Downs called on sunscreen manufacturers to “step up and innovate”.
> Puza Sarker Snigdha
Palau Bans “Reef Toxic” Sunscreens to Save Coral
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