{"id":4873,"date":"2010-05-07T13:00:35","date_gmt":"2010-05-07T05:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mywomenstuff.com\/?p=4873"},"modified":"2013-01-26T01:17:26","modified_gmt":"2013-01-25T17:17:26","slug":"swimmers-sunscreen-killing-coral-life-only-green-eco-friendly-sunblocks-allowed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mywomenstuff.com\/2010\/05\/swimmers-sunscreen-killing-coral-life-only-green-eco-friendly-sunblocks-allowed\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimmers Sunscreen Killing Coral Life – Only ‘Green’ Eco-friendly Sunblocks allowed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"is<\/p>\n

This morning, I was alerted by my sister to this piece of news<\/a> in our local paper The Star. Apparently, all our sunscreens and sunblocks are killing off coral on the sea bed and by extension, killing off marine life.<\/p>\n

So, the Terengganu government will only allow ‘green’ and eco-friendly sunblocks for use on Redang Island<\/a> which is rich in corals and marine life (Do you know I’ve never been to Redang Island? I gotta remedy that!)<\/p>\n

Before scoffing (as I do) I did a quick search online and I found that the National Geographic had said the same thing. Chemical sunscreens washed off swimmers are affecting the coral life in the seas – they can bleach corals and activate algae viruses. (source<\/a>) 4 common ingredients in sunscreens are : paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and a camphor derivative. Other sites include octinoxate and oxybenzone as harmful ingredients to marine life.<\/p>\n

The National Geographic site recommends that people use sunscreens with physical filters<\/a> – usually Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide – and eco-friendly sunscreens.<\/p>\n

Personally, I’m not quite sure what all this means.<\/p>\n

Even physical filters will be contained within a chemical compound that forms the cream which we apply on our bodies. So, what about those creams then? The local Terengganu government says they will be coming up with a list of sunscreens or sunblocks that will be allowed on Redang Island. I would be interested to see that list.<\/p>\n

From my limited knowledge, I have not yet come across an easily available and affordable ‘green’ and ‘eco-friendly’ sunblock in our drugstores and pharmacies. If you are aware of any that are easily available here in Malaysia, please leave a comment – it will be very useful!<\/p>\n

I set my gopher sis to do some online searching and she came up with some sites which we could find useful:-<\/p>\n