Palau is set to become the first country in the world to ban sunscreen.
The move has been enforced to protect its vulnerable coral reefs.
The government has signed a law that restricts the sale and use of sunscreen and skincare products that contain a list of ten different chemicals.
Researchers believe that these ingredients are highly toxic to marine life. On top of that, they can make coral more susceptible to bleaching.
The ban comes into force in 2020 and people could be fined around $1500NZD.
Scientists are particularly worried over the role of two ingredients called oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are used as sun protection factors as they absorb ultraviolet light.
Research published in 2015 showed that the oxybenzone could stunt the growth of baby corals and was toxic to several different coral species in laboratory tests.
9 Responses
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
really
I get it good stuff
That’s good to me.
Zinc sunscreen is ok.
its a good thing theyre trying to protect the marine life.
well sun screen does come from marine areas
I dont know how to react. People always nag me to wear sunscreen and now its against the law??
I guess only in Palau
the fine is to much money and people only stay on shore well most of them