Coral-damaging sunscreens banned in marine parks

Coral-damaging sunscreens banned in marine parks

Sunscreen products with chemical compounds that are harmful to coral are now prohibited from being used in Thai marine national parks, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said on Wednesday.

The chemical compounds banned are Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3), Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), 4-Methylbenzylid Camphor (4MBC) and Butylparaben, said department director-general Thanya Nethithammakul.

“Studies have found that several chemical compounds in sunscreen products are harmful to coral larvae, affecting their reproductive systems and causing…