Is Your Sunscreen Harming The Reefs and Your Health?

Thursday, March 1, 2018

WhatYou Needto KnowBefore You Buy Sunscreen (NAPSA)—With news heating up as Hawaiis governorsignsa bill into law banning chemical sunscreens, con- sumersare starting to question how safe their sunscreenreally is. Their concern is warranted as research has shownthat the same chemical sunscreen—someof the most popular brands—thatis kill- ingour oceans’ reefs, has been foundto harm the human body. “[fit’s killing our oceansreefs, imagine whatit’s doingto you?”said Lisa Palmer, co-founder ofTropicSport, a reef-friendly, mineral sunscreen and skin care line. “Now we know from a recent study that when chemical sunscreen is mixed with chlorine and exposedto ultraviolet light it can potentially result in kidney andliver dysfunction and nervous system disor- ders. It took us four years to develop our product, paying attention to the tiniest detail for maximumprotection andsafety, while using natural ingredients. We knew back then that the toxins were an issue.Its now becoming clear that these chemicals Pro surfer Jamie O’Brien protecting himself andthereef. - Photo by Jake Marote Manymainstream sunscreen brands claiming to bea safe alternative have removed most of the chemicals but now use avobenzone,a derivative of oxybenzone, as a stabilizer, making the sunscreenjust as harmful. Avobenzone degrades within 30 minutes whenit’s are harmful to humans andraising ques- exposed to the sun, which results in harmful free radicals being released into the system. Thesefree radicals can actually accelerate the aging process andincrease theriskofillness including According to a study by Dr. Craig Downs, executive director, Haereticus Palmer recommended checking sunscreen labels and using only pure tions from the FDA” Environmental Laboratory, published in the Archives of Environmental Contam- cancer. mineral sunscreen like TropicSport ination and Toxicology, “Oxybenzone with non-nanozinc oxide and titanium dioxide, ensuring that no particles are in marine environments—produced by they sit on top of the skin acting as a is an emerging contaminantof concern swimmers and municipal, residential, and boat/ship wastewater discharges” Most popular chemical sunscreens absorbedinto the bloodstream.Instead, physical blocker that deflects and scatters the UV rays awayfrom the skin. “It’s better for you, is kid friendly, contain oxybenzone,octinoxate, avoben- and unlike other mineral sunscreens,is can cause coral bleaching andcoral death, ofthe few that have passed the U.S. FDA zone and octocrylene. These chemicals as well as reproductive diseases in fish. ‘Their toxicity also prevents the natural restoration of a damaged reef, ultimately leaving theseascape barren and desolate. easier to apply, smells better, andis one 80-minute and Australia 240-minute waterresistanttests,” said Palmer. TropicSport is available at Tropic Sport.com.

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