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Govt Bans Coral-Damaging Sunscreens at National Parks

On Tuesday, the government enacted a law prohibiting sunscreen use in all Thailand’s national parks.

The measure is intended to protect the country’s coral reefs and marine ecosystem, the Royal Gazette announced.

From August 4 onwards, tourists visiting the kingdom’s national parks must avoid using sunscreens that contain four chemicals that can damage coral reefs.

Under the new order, using products with oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4MBC, and butylparaben have been banned.

The law was passed after academic studies found a link between sunscreens used by people in marine park waters and coral damage.

Research suggests that UV chemical filters in cosmetics and sunscreen products can negatively impact juvenile corals and marine life in general.

They say these chemicals affect corals every year, as they damage coral embryos by obstructing their reproductive system and causing coral bleaching.

Also, studies cited by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation show that over 3,500 sunscreen brands contain at least one of the four harmful chemicals.

The government recommended tourists use water-resistant or alternatives based on minerals such as zinc oxide when visiting any of Thailand’s marine parks.

A person who breaches the law can be charged with violating section 20 of the National Parks Act BE 2522 and fined up to 100,000 baht or $3,022.

Thailand is not the first country to impose such a law, as several coastal nations have banned sunscreens in order to revive their marine ecosystem.

Palau, the island nation in the West Pacific, was the world’s first nation to pass a similar law in January 2020.

Other nations that prohibited sunscreen products include Hawaii, Aruba, the US Virgin Islands, Florida, Bonaire, and the Mexican reserves.

It is estimated that over 14,000 tons of sunscreen had affected waters in Hawaii and the Caribbean alone.