Palau bans common sunscreens
Two years ago, the island nation of Palau, located 500 kms east of the Philippines, drafted a law banning popular sunscreens. Yesterday that law came into effect, making Palau the first country in the world to ban any sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate (also known as octyl methoxycinnamate).
In 2015, Hawaii became the first state to ban the chemicals, and in both instances, the ban is to protect coral reefs
"Toxic sunscreen chemicals have been found throughout Palau's critical habitats, and in the tissues of our most famous creatures," Palau's President Tommy Remengesau told AFP news agency.
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) describe oxybenzone and octinoxate as "known environmental pollutants" which can be "incredibly toxic to juvenile stages of many wildlife species, including corals, fish, and macroalgae."
Oxybenzone has also been documented to turn adult male fish into female fish, and cause developmental defects.
Tourism is Palau's main economy, with 122,000 people visiting in 2017, the majority to snorkel and scuba dive on Palau's coral reefs and islands. A Palau government spokeman told the ABC that each day up to five gallons (18.9 litres) of sunscreen ends up in the water surrounding the dive sites. "That, to the President and the Administration, is pollution."
Stores in Palau selling prohibited sunscreen could face fines of up to US$1,000 ($1,387), and bottles will be confiscated from tourists upon entry into the country.
Here in Australia, a similar ban is unlikely as authorities balance coral health with the world's highest rate of skin cancer.
"It's still a matter of balancing our planet health with human health when we know that two out of three Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime," Cancer Council Australia CEO Sanchia Aranda said.
Meanwhile, Professor Terry Hughes from James Cook University, who's led research into coral bleaching events, believes the sheer expanse of the Great Barrier Reef mitigates the danger. Professor Hughes said the real issues affecting coral reefs were climate change and vegetation management.
"Sunscreen and plastic straws are so far down the long list of bad things people do to coral reefs. But they're familiar to people, they resonate."
Comments
The idea of rubbing hardcore chemicals into your skin every couple of hours was ridiculous to begin with. I’ve watched on in disbelief as concerned parents have smothered their toddlers and young children in this gear for years. You can virtually guarantee there will be a backlash against it from the medical profession as soon as the money starts to drain away from the industry.
It’ll be looked back on with the same incredulity as lead based makeup , lead water pipes and artificial sweeteners . Whoops ....that last one isn’t quite there yet either .
Maybe us Aussies should be looking at the link between how much sunscreen we rub on us now and the incredible rise in skin cancer !?!?
Think your onto something BLOWIN
So true Dpbanno & Blowin, I couldn't agree more. I never use it and detest rubbing the stuff onto my daughter. I was only thinking it yesterday watching on as her mum put it on her but what are you meant to do!? If something is strong enough to block out the sun then it's pretty serious stuff and in the near future we will be finding out that it causes cancer not preventing it.
The myth that sunscreen causes cancer has been debunked quite thoroughly.
Go nuts then , Ben.
I ain’t going near that shit. Vaping was harmless too remember ? Sugar was never implicated in heart disease either.
And who specified cancer ? You’ve got no idea what that shit is doing to you , Directly or indirectly .
You can trust the science that is continuously evolving, I’d prefer to trust the intuition that says dozens of synthetic chemicals aren’t doing the human body any favours and to limit exposure to the shit wherever possible.
What about 15 years ago when they’d categorically proven that Roundup was safe .....
I replied to dpbanno, who specificially mentioned cancer.
I'm certainly open to any advancements in research which bring about new information and technological improvements, but until then I'm happy with the recommendations given to me my by my skin specialist, and I'll continue to use sun protection (I've been using Key Sun Clear Zinc for a while).
Doctors and experts are infallible.
Did I tell you about the 75 year old lady who attends the local Parkinson’s support group ?
Yeah , they’ve been treating her Parkinson’s for over 6 years , really going hard with the medications. Mixing them up and maximising doses to try and arrest her rapid deterioration.
Well they were , until a new specialist realised that she doesn’t have Parkinson’s and never did. She had a mild tremor in one hand as the prolonged result of a car accident. Her misdiagnosis was continuously compounded by the heavy duty medication they were pumping into her.
She claims to feel like a new person now that she’s stopped the drugs . Back to a minor tremor in one hand . Gone is the hectic dyskinesia, insomnia, constipation , inability to walk unaided, night terrors , sweats , palpitations, kidney distress and body shakes. Can’t really guarantee that she’s not cooked internally after years of those drugs fucking her body over.The rapid deterioration in her condition was caused by the experts.
And this is the result of years of “expert “ treatment. Never , ever cede authority to these people. Get their advice , get as much advice as you can and then weigh up the results and options yourself. A lot of times they talk shit and are just plain wrong.
Or maybe I should tell you about the ordinary cataract on my eye ( amongst the most widely identified medical problem in Australia) which was misdiagnosed by 3 optometrists and 3 eye surgeons before a 4th eye surgeon spotted it within a few seconds of looking.
Or what about when my missus was hold by Perth’s top neurologist that she had a degenerative brain disease which was incurable and would lead to premature death ? This was after weeks of scans and tests . Turns out that her head shake was just a type of temporary muscle strain from staring into the air at crane loads whilst she worked.
Or perhaps about my brother who was told by one of Australia’s leading Parkinson’s experts that his form of Parkinson’s ( early onset ) would kill him within 3 years !!!
Nice ! Great bedside manner.
That was almost 7 years ago now....
Don’t trust the bastards...
I only suggested investigating a link in the 2 .
I don’t trust most medical professionals anymore . They are educated by the hierarchy and don’t know any better . Just like a docter prescribing a nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking , it’s insane . I’ve watched so many people i know die from chemotherapy after any alternative medicine is frowned upon and even laughed at by so called medical professionals , even though they are proven to cure cancer . And the melenomas i’ve seen on my family members and friends have been in obscure spots that never or very rarely see the sun . And who debunked this ? the doctors at bannana boat ? Just like big pharmaceutical companies they investigate them selves and put out loads of bullshit into the mainstream and the masses just lap it up
Which "alternative" medicine is proven to cure cancer? And what proof do you have?
Do you know the technicalities of how melonomas actually form and how cancer manifests in the body?
The CBD in cannibas ( don’t know if i spelt that correctly as predictive text on an iphone won’t spell it for me ) but that’s another story .. has been proven over and over again to attach to our cannabanoid receptor system and deconstruct tumour’s .. That’s why they removed Rick simpsons farm who was curing people for free .. and if you look hard enough through the pages and pages of dis information on the internet there are thousands of other herbs and plants that destroy cancer cells , not to mention sound waves at the right frequency .. Call me a tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorist but i am 40 years old and i can still remember as a kid hearing on the news over and over they may have found a cure for cancer but clinical trials are a couple of years away ? that was 30 plus years ago .. As long as big pharmaceutical keeps us all drugged up and is still a multi billion dollar industry , cancer isn’t going anywhere .. As for the manifestation of melanoma , it is just another cancer like everything else . There was a one root cause , maybe check out Dr Sebi .. I still do believe there are certain types of skin related issues caused by the sun .. just not malignant melanomas ..
By who?
With funding from who / where?
It wasn't that long ago the 'experts' had 'scientific evidence' that told us that cigarettes were not carcinogens, that asbestos was safe and well, lead in things like paint and fuel wasn't an issue!
I prefer to looking behind the BS. Suggest everyone looking at all these current issues does the same.
Here's a link to the Cancer Council for WA.
https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/
Here's their post on "Sunscreen and cancer myth".
https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/sunscreen-cancer-myth/
Not sure who they're funded by though (they are independent).
Yep, and the research cited at those links is only in relation to "Cancer myth: Nanoparticles in Sunscreen".
Here's the link to the TGA 'review of literature' referenced by the Cancer Council:
https://www.tga.gov.au/literature-review-safety-titanium-dioxide-and-zin...
In which, in the summary it states:
"The majority of in vitro studies (using both animal and human skin) and in vivo studies have shown that both ZnO and TiO2 NPs either do not penetrate or minimally penetrate the stratum corneum and underlying layers of skin. This suggests that systemic absorption, hence toxicity, is highly unlikely."
What about all the other chemicals? You know, like the ones believed to be harming the reefs? (i.e. oxybenzone and octinoxate)
Can anyone recommend a good chemical free option? A quick search only gives me adds for beauty products and I'm too lazy to do any real research today.
Surfmud is the best product in the market and its also reef safe.
https://www.sunsense.com.au/au/en/our-products/all-products/kids/sunsens...
The Best Chemical Free Zinc Oxide Based Sunscreen I've found hands down!
Under the 'ingredients' list at that link:
Actives:
15% Zinc Oxide
Preservatives:
Hydroxybenzoates
I'd recommend doing some research on Hydroxybenzoates.
Surf yogis zinc. Awesome stuff, doesn't rub off easy
You might be right Blowin but good old zinc seems to be hanging in there.
Hat, long sleeved shirt and zinc. And for some sun-sensible contributors to this site, maybe a hood.
Would be good to see Oz governments extend a ban like this to lakes e.g. those on SE Qld sand islands.
Would be interesting to see some samples taken from the bottom of Lake Mackenzie.
I know Brown Lake on North Stradbroke (a perched lake) had significant levels of lead in it from power boats back in the day.
Andy! Careful what you wish for...see below!
yeah the blue pool and green pools at angas be worth a check
Lake Ainsworth as well
it's a disgusting human soup there at the moment.
I bet
Timely report Swellnet.
Ancient Sunscreen
Aborigines - Crushed Red Eye Wattle in water
Egyptians -Rice Oil Blend + Jasmine after-sun care
Sunscreen Ban....one adult application can kill 5km of reef
1999 Qld NPWS banned Sunscreen in WH swim zones (Guidelines - Wording)
Title:"The Significance & management implications of perched dune lakes as swimming & recreation sites on Fraser Island, Australia" by Wade l. Hadwen * and Angela H. Arthington re: Page 10. (Preventative measures with regard to REGULATION of Sunscreen as to Lakes) tbb recalls at the time (News) Sunscreen regulation was a condition of WH listing of the Fraser Island...It is the real deal on World Scale!
https://fraser-tours.com/article/lake-mckenzie-on-fraser-island
https://nomadsfraserisland.com/blog/fraser-island-hot-spot-lake-mckenzie
https://fraserislandtoursaustralia.com.au/attractions/lake-mckenzie/
You'll find that WH Waterfall was a similar condition due to all-round climate & sheer numbers passing thru SEQ WH parks.
https://www.myfavouriteescapes.com/tooloona-creek-circuit/
Current NP Guidelines.
*Sunscreen Lotions pollute water & harm aquatic life.
*Apply sunscreen "AFTER" your swim!...(Note this is opposite to recommended use)
Ranger assigns penalty points (Fines) for disobeying park guidelines.
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/experiences/caring_for_parks_and_forests.html
Sunscreen Ban Timeline exclusive to swellnet.
1999 Qld WH Lamington Falls & Creeks ban (Initially to protect Spiny Blue Cray)
1999 Qld WH Kgari ban (To protect World's most pristine island lakes/customs)
2002 NSW Protestors Falls Sunscreen > complete swim Ban Ongoing (Barred frog)
https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2002/02/28/492207.htm
https://www.bigvolcano.com.au/natural/natparks.htm
2002 NSW Terrania Creek No Sunscreen > complete swim ban ongoing (Barred frog)
http://www.wildswimmingaustralia.com/locations/tehuti-falls-terania-cree...
2004 Mexico confiscates imported sunscreen + NP Lakes (Only natural product)
2000's Countries ban sale of Oxybenzone/ Octinoxate > 10 ingredients
2015 Hawaii is first 'state to ban said chemicals. (re: Feature)
2018 Fiji Resorts begin banning use of imported Sunscreens.
2020 Palau bans Sunscreens (Initially for WH Jelly Lake) (re: Feature)
2020 Virgin Islands (Law July 2019) Ban on import & sales
2021 Hawaii bans Shop sale Sunscreens (Not an import luggage Search!)
2021 Florida Key West bans Shop sale Sunscreens
2021 Caribbean Bonaire Island bans resort & shop sales sunscreen.
No point arguing over first whatever...
Several WH / NP waters may well precede this timeline. (Feel free to list more!)
first i have heard about it, i just thought it was absorbed into the skin.
swellnet is a good forum to learn new information.
I pretty much only use this sunscreen nowadays anyway. And it’s reef friendly.
https://invisiblezinc.com/reef-friendly/
Thanks Don. Wadda ya know, I already have some.
I switched back to zincs only a couple of years ago. Have tried quite a few, including the invisible zinc. Check the ingredients of each variant for these chemicals above though.
Some of the zincs can dry the skin out after a surf, so wash off or put some aloe vera on after.
Currently trying Neutrogena Sheer Zinc dry touch for sensitive skin - 2hrs resistant, zinc oxide 21.6% with preservatives chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol (I'll let you know if those two give me super powers...) It's not bad, no dry skin after. I suspect that the original white zinc from back in the day, just the zinc oxide, will probably be the best.
Tbb - great ancient sunscreen recipes!
If these common sunscreens are turning male fish into female fish, we probably don't want them on us.
2020 now, lets clean things up.
Edit: a long arm wettie is pretty good sun protection too!
Prof Terry Hughes‘ comment is spot on
For years I have surfed in long arm springys, also wear a hat in the middle of the day if the waves are mellow.
Bit of zinc and there.
No need for anything else.
A subject close to my Heart, as I have a young Family, my Mum & Dad have had skin cancers removed, I'm an Ocean lover & spend hours in the water like the rest of us.
95% of sunscreens on the market are Chemical based & are absorbed into your skin, which I don't like the idea of at all.
Link below to the best Zinc Oxide base, 4hr water resistant, Physical barrier sunscreen I have been able to find.
Speaking from my own experience, I can highly recommend this product!
Catch ya's in the Surf! Yeeeew!!!
https://www.sunsense.com.au/au/en/our-products/all-products/kids/sunsens...
Sun protection during brutal Vicco summers for my four kids was always full long sleeve rashies and boardies down to their knees plus a wide brimmed hat. Beach tents also provide good refuge from the hot sun as well. Would spend all day at the beach on 40c days without any sunburn issues. Got keep 'em hydrated too...
Isn't the claims of chemicals in sun screen heading down the same road as Anti Vax's?
Still anything you place on your skin will be absorbed no harm in trying possible safer options but please cover those kids up completely the skin clinic I go to see's up to 200 melanoma a year many oldies who got burn to cinders as kids.
Edit wouldn't use the nano particle stuff.
it does trip me out.....the Aussie beach culture of mainstream Aus.
beach is deserted before 9am, when sun strength and UV is bearable.
Come 9am, set your alarm by it, families show up and get the kids out as UV levels hit extreme and pull the kids out in the arvo.
Cook the kids.
Surf clubs are the worst.
We're fuking tourists in this country, still haven't figured basic ways to live in it.
Trying to run European timetables with European skin in extreme climates.
Zinc Oxide is zinc oxide. Thats the active ingredient.
You're being played for a mug if you buy expensive sunscreen (with zinc as an ingredient along with other chems) instead of basic old zinc cream.
It's a physical barrier, needs to sit on top of your skin.
Also has a slight synergistic effect (ie blocks a wider area of the UV spectrum) with other physical barrier Titanium dioxide.
I don't really understand it either. You get maybe 1 good week worth of days at the beach as a normie, so you go when it's 35 to 43 degrees, blast furnace desert sand conditions, mid morning to end of day and cop the lot. UV index off the charts.
the quiet and beauty of the morning are lost, the wind and late afternoon walk as the sun dips are not part of it either - need a doge for that one
Guess I'm not really a 'beach person' when not surfing. Beach in winter is extra nice I reckon.
100% agree ... it's baffling.
I could almost resign myself to accepting it if it was only in the peak holiday season that his behaviour is observed. But, no. Year round the mid morning stream of families to beach and creeks happens around here.
We dont need sunscreen. Why use sunscreen when you can control other factors like 1) how long you should be under the sun , or 2)dont stay out too long , 3) dont swim too long 4) and the list goes on..
Great thread. Thanks for all the good advice.
Just an aside to zinc use. I used it on my face (organic, NZ made) and got rosacea from it. Turns out it was blocking the pores on my cheeks, leaving mites to breed.
Skin specialist put me on a month-long course of metronidazole, which had such awful mental side effects that I gave up and had a good think. Turns out it was the zinc, which I cut out, and my skin has cleared completely..
I wear a thin hood with brim most of the year, or a floppy surf hat in smaller waves. In the tropics an O'neill ls rashie with a hood and neoprene brim. It even has a water bottle pocket on the back. Brilliant.
Yet I’ve found that the zinc I use is unbeatable for getting rid of the minor psoriasis I get on my face when my gut health gets out of whack.
Interesting.
I might try a more runny zinc. The gunky stuff does not work for me, and I'm not ready for old man red cheeks and a puss-riddled nose.
..... Surfmud is the best stuff I have found by a long shot..... thoroughly tested with some long sessions in the tropics and stays on really well.
So here I sit after an hour and half in the sun at Tugun day before yesterday, got up 0700 apply banana boat to entire body 50+, arrive Tugun hour and half later apply more banana boat just be to sure. Spend time on beach, hat and what not, have a couple of body bashes reapply after each like they say, two hours total beach time. Go to car to change for lunch. Partner in crime, says OMG look at your back!
Check with mirror, looked like a freshly broiled lobster. Go figure eh, worst sunburn than the last time I forgot to put the shit screen on.
Used banana boat for years and then had a similar experience to yours..... got hammered several times. Thought it must have been a bad batch or something but on the the back of that started to look for something else. Natural stuff that’s zinc based is the go
Has the bottle of sunscreen been left in the hot car or hot sun? Once the sunscreen gets hot it’s no good anymore.
I didn’t know that but I had always left it in the car/ backpack/ boat with no noticeable issues before. Just seemed like it really stopped being effective all of a sudden...?? Anyway, glad I switched. Seems the more natural based stuff is far better
What temperature Don?
Banana boat is the worst , some children have had radical reactions to it and hospitalised because of it . There is photos and it looked like banana boat had actually burnt the kids skin the photos weren’t pretty, yet it is still sold in most shops . Zinc is definitely the go.
If you google children burnt by banana boat sunscreen there’s heaps of literature and photos
moo-goo 24% zinc......the other one is 'we are feel good 'which they recon was developed so as not to affect coral etc....seems to work o.k
Good work crew! Excellent reviews all round.
Banana Boat comes down to 2 issues.
Firstly! Crew acknowledges & feels for these victims. Note: "Photos are horrific!"
Sunscreen Testing Timeline
2012 Banana Boat went with that manky Aerosol application in tin cans.
The ramping of fuel + alcohol accelerants into aerosol doubled the flammability.
Flicking a cigarette ash or spin a snag at BBQ triggered Flame on! (Person on Fire!)
https://nypost.com/2012/10/19/burnt-to-a-crisp-banana-boat-recalls-sunsc...
Next issue is the market step up to 50+ sunscreens may not be all what they seem!
Banana Boat / Cancer Council insist incorrect use & we will never recall...
Pretty much have to sue them (see 2019 below!)
2017-
1st Feb 2017 Suggestions in some media that TGA does not adequately Test. (Wot?)
Oz Cancer Council new 50+ brew...Peppa Pig was copping a roasting...
https://www.qt.com.au/news/mother-calls-sunscreen-be-recalled-following-...
Now Banana Boat heat wave strips the flesh off pretty much everyone!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4107628/Banana-Boat-Australia-s...
2018
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/woman-suffers-h...
28th June 2018 Canada Sunscreen Test found 'full compliance' on 27 products WTF?
20th July 2018 Australia Sunscreen Test 'full compliance' on 94 products...WTF?
2019
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/florida-mother-sues-banana-b...
6th May 2019 US Study Sunscreen in the Bloodstream
Findings: Use mineral sunscreens - Zinc oxide + Titanium Dioxide to reflect Sun.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2019/05/06/FDA-Sunscreen-chemicals-enter...
Ok tbb; so what's not what it seems...are Canada & Oz Govts on the Take?
20th Nov 2019 - ( 9 out of 20 sunscreens fail NZ 'Protection Test' ) OK so not 100%
Banana Boat 50+ / Cancer Council 50+ ...should both read 20+...
(Half of what label was implying) re: Can / Oz Testing Labs = 100% Perfect Mate.
Misleading & accusing all those severely burnt victims > Class Action against Govts!
Ask how Can/Oz testing got it so wrong...resulting in continuous burns victims?
Full apology is warranted...& compo.
TGA review says independent Tests! (Industry says fuck off creeps!) That works fine!
Gutless & on the take! No Tests, only discredit independent findings as the US study.
So where to from here! More of the same...that works fine!
27th Dec 2019 - Best Sunscreens for 2020 (You guessed it!) Banana Boat /.... /....
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-best-sunscreen-in-2020/
Well I use sun zapper and that contains Octyl Methoxycinnamate so no go if I ever go
Simplest solution which will also solve global warming...remove the sun. Also it’s a proven fact that if you open your fridge for around a 20 seconds or more each day, that will also cool the earth and curb global warming and at the same time cool the skin slowing down the effects of sun burn.
Oh yeah some people think if they are the only one opening their fridge for 20 seconds it won’t make much difference, that’s why it’s important that everyone in the world gets a fridge and does it, that would probably solve global warming straight away and the condensation would be good enough to crest a new layer of fridge cloud , a fine layer of cloud that bounced the harmful sun rays back to the sun, thus solving the whole sunburn problem. Buy a fridge !
Right on blowin
Chemicals are toxic to the well being of a health life
It looks kooky but now I wear a hat and leg licra under my boardies (thats when I'm not in a full wettie) - zero chemicals into the water - done
dp
Yeh I wear the stingray leggings under my boarders or springy too
Got the sexy dad look going and I’m not even a dad and just turned 30