Thailand ban use of some sunscreens containing chemical that might damage the corals

[spoon]

Source

To protect its coral reefs, Thailand on Tuesday enacted a law prohibiting the use of sunscreens in all national parks. 

Those who violate the law will face a fine of up to THB100,000 (US$3,022), according to the details published last night in the Royal Gazette.

The law was passed due to a link between coral damage and sunscreen used by tourists in the waters of marine parks, the department of national parks said. 

That means all sunscreens containing Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, 4-Methylbenzyl and Butylparaben are banned from use.

Several studies have confirmed that chemical UV filters common to sunscreen lotions and cosmetics can have negative impacts on marine life, especially juvenile coral.

 

 

 

Quite refreshing to see thai gov doing the right thing once in a while. Time to check which sunscreen we can use! Lol

[Keithambrose]

Good news indeed, but what are the chances of this being enforced?

[spoon]

My guess is high since they stand to make money out of the offenders. Usd 3000 is a lot more than what they fine traffic offenders.

[10tazione]

1 hour ago, spoon said:

My guess is high since they stand to make money out of the offenders. Usd 3000 is a lot more than what they fine traffic offenders.

Can you read ingredients in russian, chinese and arabic? I can't read them even in my own language, because they are printed so small

[spoon]

3 hours ago, 10tazione said:

Can you read ingredients in russian, chinese and arabic? I can't read them even in my own language, because they are printed so small

Google lens haha.

[gerefan]

Have they nothing better to worry about in these days of Covid/unemployment/bankruptcy/starvation etc ?

[vinapu]

I only hope that those prohibited sunscreens won't be available for purchase on every 7/11 anyways , ban or not. 

[reader]

The ingredients discussed above are indeed bad for the coral reefs, but the stuff they'll never take off the shelves are the highly lucrative skin lighteners that can pose significant dangers to humans.  Very popular among the hi-so crowd whose greatest fear is to have the bronzed complexion of Thais who work outdoors, these cosmetics frequently have one ingredient in common: mercury.

The US Food and Drug administration warns you can frequently find the chemical in "anti-aging" and skin lightening products.

In an advisory titled Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products, the FDA states::

• If the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” are listed on the label, mercury’s in it—and you should stop using the product immediately.

Signs and Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

• irritability
• shyness
• tremors
• changes in vision or hearing
• memory problems
• depression
• numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around mouth