CORALS

About:

• Concerns are growing that lotions tourists use for sun protection are harming slow-growing corals.
  
  
• The Thai Department of Conservation said four ingredients commonly found in sun creams were shown to destroy coral larvae, obstruct coral reproduction and cause reef bleaching.
  
  
• The banned lotions are those containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or butylparaben.
  
  
• Anyone flouting the ban can be fined up to 100,000 baht (£2,100).
  
  
• Similar bans have been introduced by the Pacific island of Palau and the US state of Hawaii. This is the latest attempt by the Thai government to protect its coral from the tourism industry.