Taking a cue from Hawaii, a bill has been introduced in the Northern Marianas House of Representatives to ban the distribution and sale of sunscreen products that contain chemicals harmful to coral reefs.
Photo: Skincancer.org
According to the proposed measure, oxybenzone and octinoxate have significant harmful impacts on the marine environment, including coral reefs.
The two chemicals also allegedly kill developing corals, increase coral bleaching, make the reefs vulnerable to stress and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms.
Scientific studies also showed that both chemicals can "induce feminisation in adult male fish and increase reproductive diseases in marine invertebrate and vertebrate species, and mammals".
A 2012 study showed both chemicals can be found in more than 70 percent of sunscreens on the market.