Key West bans sale of sunscreens that harm coral reefs
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (NSF) - Certain sunscreen products in the Sunshine State would require prescriptions, under a measure proposed Tuesday in the Florida Senate.
Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 708) that would require prescriptions to buy sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate.
The bill, which doesn’t have a House version, says the chemicals “cause mortality in developing coral” and “degrade corals’ resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors.”
The Florida Society for Dermatology has opposed a similar proposal that has been moving forward in Key West.