Thailand, one of the most visited countries in the world because of its spectacular tropical beaches, has banned the use of sunscreens containing four chemicals in marine parks, which are known to damage corals.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Protection said the measure, which took effect Wednesday, was aimed at protecting the country’s coast from products that “damage coral reefs, destroy larvae, disrupt their reproductive system and cause coral discoloration.”
Studies have shown that even at very low concentrations, sunscreens cause rapid and complete discoloration of hard corals.