Support the Ban of Oxybenzone and Octinoxate in the USVI!

“It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and azure blue waters were sparkling in the mid afternoon sun. Cruise ships visitors were packing up their belonging and were leaving. And now we see a brownish oil slick like sheen floating in the calm waters of the ocean. “
Since 2016 , Island Green Living have been working with experts from around the country , to explore ways of preserving the health of coral due to sun screen entering our waters.

Our newly elected president met Dr. Cheryl Woodley of NOAA who has been conducting research both at Buck Island and Trunk Bay.

She introduced Harith Wickrema to Dr. Craig Downs of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. Senator Marvin Blyden agreed to sponsor the Bill.

Now almost 3 years later it is finally coming to a fruition

On Monday, May 20th join us in St. Thomas to take a stand against chemicals found in most major sunscreens that are toxic coral reefs and disrupting the human endocrine system.

**Please wear closed toed shoes and pants to attend. **

Senator Marvin A. Blyden and Senator Janelle K. Sarauw are sponsoring Bill No. 33-0043, "An act amending title 27, chapter 9 of the Virgin Islands Code by adding a section 305h providing a ban on the retail sale or offer for sale, and the distribution or importation for retail purposes of topical sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate"

These chemicals have no place in our oceans or in the human body!
Oxybenzone and Octinoxate have already been banned in Hawaii and Key West, and the USVI is next to take action against their chemical pollution!

Invited to testify is Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory whose research has been instrumental in bringing public awareness to these chemicals- watch "Reefs At Risk" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28qWIPeOkvI
Key testifiers also include,

-Harith Wickrema, President of Island Green Living and co-author of the Bill,
-Howard Forbes Jr., MSC., Coordinator of VI Marine Advisory service,
-Kitty Edwards, Education and Outreach Coordinator of our local Division of Coastal Zone Management,
-Joseph Aubain, Executive Director of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce.

The irony is that there are over 200 plus sunscreens that are listed as safe by the Environmental Working Group
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

Come and inform the senators that they are only doing good by passing this legislature!

These chemicals have been shown to cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms
– According to the research quoted by Hawaii Gov. David Ige who signed the Hawaii bill

The most common sunscreen chemical, Oxybenzone, was found in 96% of the population by a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is especially alarming since oxybenzone is considered an endocrine disruptor, can reduce sperm count in men and may contribute to endometriosis in women.

There are nearly 200 articles being published in peer-review journals demonstrating:
· Oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreens and personal care products taint ground, surface, and ocean waters and adversely affect the environment.
· Oxybenzone and octinoxate bioaccumulate and biomagnify in aquatic life and contaminate the human food chain.
· Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral, larval fish, sea urchins, and marine arthropods; increase the susceptibility of coral to bleaching; reduce resilience to and ability to respond to climate change factors; inhibit coral growth; induce feminization in adult male fish; increase the occurrence of reproductive diseases in certain marine species; induce deformities in the embryonic development of fish, sea urchins, coral, and shrimp; and induce neurological behavioral changes in fish.
· Oxybenzone and octinoxate can have negative effects on newborn humans and marine mammals through in utero exposure and transfer of contaminated breast milk. Leading to negative changes in thyroid function, hormonal regulation, fat distribution, sperm development and alter pubertal development and timing in adolescents.
· Oxybenzone and octinoxate exposure may cause Hirschsprung’s Disease in a human neonate as well as produce genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and increase breast cancer cell proliferation.