Thailand bans sunscreens containing ingredients that could harm corals

Thailand has banned the use of sunscreens that contain chemicals that can damage corals in all of its marine national parks.

There is growing concern that the lotion that tourists use to protect themselves from the sun will destroy slow-growing corals.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection of Thailand stated that the four common ingredients in sunscreens have been shown to destroy coral larvae, hinder coral reproduction and cause coral reef bleaching.

The banned lotions are those containing any of the following ingredients:

• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• 4-methylbenzylidene camphor
• Butylparaben

Anyone who violates the ban may be fined up to 100,000 baht ($3,000).

Similar bans have been introduced by Palau Island in the Pacific Ocean and the US state of Hawaii.

This is the latest attempt by the Thai government to protect its corals from tourism.