ENVIRONMENT

From Banana Boat to Coppertone, major sunscreen brands may soon have to revamp their products or stop selling them in Hawaii, which is looking out for its coral reefs. (Washington Post)

Sunscreens are probably damaging oyster reefs, too.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.

Discussion Ideas

• The Aloha State, Hawaii, may ban some sunscreens. What is sunscreen?
  • Sunscreen is material that blocks some of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. By preventing this radiation from reaching a person’s skin, sunscreen protects skin from harmful burns, and even some forms of skin cancer.
    • Sunscreens block two types of UV radiation.
      • UVA contributes to wrinkles, age spots, freckles, and some cancers.
      • UVB causes sunburns and some cancers. (Think B for burn.)
    • Sunscreens block UV radiation by both reflecting and absorbing it.
      • reflect. Inorganic materials, such as zinc oxide, physically block and reflect sunlight.
      • absorb. Organic materials, such as oxybenzone, absorb UV radiation through their chemical bonds. “As the bonds absorb UV radiation, the components of the sunscreen slowly break down and release heat.”
    • Sunscreens are labeled with a number indicating their SPF (sun protection factor). SPF indicates the sunscreen’s strength.
      • An SPF 30 sunscreen, for example, provides 30 times the protection of no sunscreen. So, if you normally begin to burn after 10 minutes in the sun, a healthy dose of SPF 30 will allow you to stay in the sun without burning for five hours.
        • How’d we get from 10 minutes to five hours? Math time! 10×30=300 minutes. There are 60 minutes in an hour. 300/60=5.
        • It is important to remember that reapplying sunscreen does not start the clock over. More sunscreen just replaces what has worn off.
        • Stop at 50. SPF ratings higher than 50 have not been proven to be more effective than SPF 50.
    • Sunscreens come in liquids, sprays, gels, and waxes.

• Why have Hawaiian legislators passed a bill to outlaw sunscreen?
  • That’s overstating the scope of the bill. The bill would ban the use of certain organic compounds (oxybenzone and octinoxate) in sunscreen.

• What’s wrong with oxybenzone and octinoxate?
  • These chemicals have been associated with damage to coral reefs. The bill states that oxybenzone and octinoxate can “cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals’ 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.”
    • Hawaii is ringed by different types of coral reefs, which the state Department of Land and Natural Resources calls “some of the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on earth, providing food, jobs, recreational opportunities, coastal protection and other important services to billions of people world-wide.”

• Many health authorities oppose the bill because sunscreen is a crucial component of skin care on Hawaii’s sunny shores. How are sunbathers going to protect their skin if key types of sunscreen are not widely available?
  • make a change. Consumers can pressure manufacturers to alter the formulas of their sunscreens. In fact, some already have. “Edgewell Personal Care, which manufactures Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens, said some of its products are already available without oxybenzone and octinoxate.”
  • get a prescription. Sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate will still be available to patients with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional.
  • stay in the shade and cover up. Sunbathers can limit their time outdoors and out of the shade, and be sure to wear protective clothing like hats and t-shirts.

TEACHERS TOOLKIT

Washington Post: Hawaii might be about to ban your favorite sunscreen to protect its coral reefs

Nat Geo: Is Your Sunscreen Hurting Oysters? Probably.

Live Science: How Does Sunscreen Work?

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources: Coral Reefs