Before you pack your bags for your next Caribbean holiday, be sure to check the fine print on your sunscreen products unless you want to face a hefty fine.
The US Virgin Islands legislature last month passed a law that bans the importation, sale or possession of products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. First-time violators will be fined $1,000. That fine is doubled for repeat offenders. Organic Synthesis Intermediates
The banned compounds are common in many commercially available sunscreens and lotions, but have been found to be harmful to delicate coral reef ecosystems already being jeopardized by rising sea temperatures because of global warming.
Similar sunscreen regulations have been enacted in other tropical getaways with coral reefs including Key West, Hawaii, Bonaire and Palau.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate go by a variety of names, so read labels carefully for any of these synonymous compounds:
US Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Brian is set to sign the law this month. The ban will roll into effect over the course of 2020.
Several cruise lines departing from Port Canaveral make stops at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Responding to inquiries from FLORIDA TODAY, Royal Caribbean provided a statement saying they encourage their guests to use "reef-safe" sunscreens or UV protective swim shirts.
"Our shipboard activities team, including life guards, use reef-safe sunscreen and our gift shops are replacing sunscreens with reef-safe, biodegradable alternatives. In those ports where there are specific bans on these chemicals we are advising our guests in advance and while at the destination," they wrote.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends using sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Such sunscreens are often far more durable and water resistant and are suggested for people with sensitive skin or who are taking medications that might otherwise cause complications with sun exposure. These sunscreens have not been found to damage coral reefs.
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