Fresh in the wake of a similar measure in Hawaii, a House legislation is seeking to ban the distribution and sale in the CNMI of certain sunscreen products that contain chemicals that are harmful to coral reefs.<\/p>\n
Rep. Ivan A. Blanco\u2019s (R-Saipan) House Bill 21-28 states that two chemicals contained in many sunscreens\u2014oxybenzone and octinoxate\u2014”have significant harmful impacts on marine environment and residing ecosystems, including coral reefs that protect the island\u2019s shoreline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both chemicals also allegedly kills developing corals, increase coral bleaching\u2014making them vulnerable to stress even at temperatures below 87.8\u00b0F\u2014and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese chemicals (oxybenzone and octinoxate) have also been shown to degrade corals\u2019 resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals. Furthermore, oxybenzone and octinoxate appear to increase the probability of endocrine disruption,\u201d adds H.B. 21-28.<\/p>\n
Scientific studies also showed that both chemicals can \u201cinduce feminization in adult male fish and increase reproductive diseases in marine invertebrate (e.g. sea urchins) and vertebrate species (e.g. wrasses, eels, and parrotfish), and mammals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe chemicals also induce deformities in the embryonic development of fish, sea urchins, coral, and shrimp, and induce neurological behavioral changes in fish that threaten the continuity of fish populations,\u201d said in H.B. 21-28.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, species that are listed on the Federal Endangered Species Act and inhabit the CNMI\u2019s waters\u2014including sea turtle species, marine mammals, and migratory birds\u2014may be exposed to oxybenzone and octinoxate contamination.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hawaii became the first U.S. jurisdiction that outlawed the sale of sunscreens that contain both chemicals while Key West City in Florida voted to ban products with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Florida State Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), however, wanted to expand the sunscreen ban to the entire state. Palau has also banned sunscreens with both chemicals.<\/p>\n
Vice speaker Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) along with Reps. Roman C. Benavente (R-Saipan), Luis John DLG Castro (R-Saipan), Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan), Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), John Paul P. Sablan (R-Saipan), Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), and Ralph N. Yumul (R-Saipan) are co-sponsors of H.B. 21-28.<\/p>\n
A study by the Environmental Working Group in 2012 showed that both chemicals can be found in more than 70 percent of sunscreens that are being sold in the market while only a quarter are without the potentially harmful ingredients.<\/p>\n
EWG, a non-profit organization that advocates for corporate accountability on toxic chemicals used, and other toxicology experts also link oxybenzone to hormone disruption and potential cell damage that may cause skin cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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