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Hawaii Passes Bill to Ban Sun Care Products That Harm Coral

This is What’s Trending Today…

Lawmakers in the American state of Hawaii have passed a bill banning sunscreens that can harm coral reefs.

If the state’s governor signs the bill, Hawaii would become the first state in the country to pass such a law.

The bill would ban the sale of sun care products that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Scientists say the two substances can harm coral, an important part of the ocean ecosystem¹ and popular with tourists.

The chemicals are found in more than 3,500 sunscreens worldwide, including Coppertone and Banana Boat products.

Senator Mike Gabbard introduced the bill. He told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper, “Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law.”

He added, “Our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow."

Craig Downs is a scientist. His 2015 peer-examined study found that oxybenzone threatened coral reefs. He found that as much as 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in coral reefs each year.

He said the Hawaii bill is “the first real chance that local reefs have to recover.”

Opponents of the bill question the science.

Tina Yamaki is the president of the Retail² Merchants of Hawaii. She said there are still not enough independent studies on the issue to know whether the chemicals cause harm to coral. And, she said, the ban might keep people from buying sunscreen products from local stores.

The American Chemistry Council also opposed the bill, noting concerns over the risks of sun damage to skin.

Sharon Har was one of four Hawaiian lawmakers who voted against the bill.

She said, “Yes, we must protect the environment -- it is our number one resource -- but at the end of the day, studies have pointed³ to global warming, human contact, coastal⁴ development” as other major threats to coral.

Many sunscreen manufacturers already sell “reef-friendly” products. And companies still have some time to sell products that contain the two chemicals; the ban would not take effect until January 2021.

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Caty Weaver⁵.

Words in This Story

sunscreen - n. a lotion⁶ that you put on your skin to prevent sunburn by blocking out some of the sun's rays

coral reef - n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water (coral: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures)

tourist - n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

paradise - n. a very beautiful, pleasant, or peaceful place that seems to be perfect

standard - n. something that is very good and that is used to make judgments⁷ about the quality of other things

introduce - n. to present (something) for discussion or consideration?

amazingly - adv. suprisingly; wonderfully

peer - n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else

global - adj. of or about the whole world

1 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

2 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

6 lotion   

n.洗剂

参考例句：

• The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
• She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。

7 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。