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From: Mendy Dant
Sent: Monday, May 16,,2022 3:34 PM /Oil MAY I:6 Pfd 3: 39
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support Bill 167
Aloha Chair Rebecca Villegas, Co-Chair Heather Kimball, and members of the Committee on
Climate Resilience & Natural Management,
I am Mendy Dant and my family has a third-generation snorkel business here in Keauhou Kona, Hawaii. I appreciate
that you are taking steps to understand the importance of saving our environment, specifically our coral reefs from
the chemical sunscreens marketed here in Hawaii. The health of our ocean environment depends on the coral reefs,
the fish for their habitat, and food source, and the health of our shorelines in preventing havoc when storms hit our
shores every year. Your ability to rule against chemical sunscreens will mitigate pollution that threatens the
conservation and restoration of coral reefs and the overall health of the oceans. We have tourism as our number one
industry in Hawaii and have already lost 40% of our coral due to man-made pollution, and the warming climate of our
oceans. We need to do everything in our power to protect our ocean, and outlawing the chemical sunscreens from
being sold or used here on Hawaii island is a crucial opportunity.
There have been so many scientific studies proving the chemicals in sunscreens are killing our coral, fish and are
harmful to humans. These chemicals in the sunscreen have not prevented skin cancer. Many people stay out longer in
the sun because they think they will not get sun damage, but this is false. The continued use of toxic chemicals is
unnecessary and can only push reefs closer to the brink of extinction. We should adopt what we are doing
in Kealakekua Bay and stop the use of chemical sunscreens all over our island.
The availability of affordable sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which the FDA has
determined to be safe and effective for human use are available everywhere sunscreens are sold. The
confusion that the cosmetic companies have caused by labeling "reef safe" on chemical sunscreens is
frustrating for consumers and untrue. Comfortable, fashionable and affordable UPF clothing is also widely
available due to this evolved customer demand for safer products. We must move away from
using octocrylene, avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate and other soluble petrochemical UV filters which
have achieved nothing in benefit and only bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and toxicity to humans and
wildlife while polluting the entire global water supply.
This is a great article - states the case for adverse effects by Soluble Organics on the marine ecosystem and humans. -
even the Park Service gets it.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt sunscreen.htm
Mahalo for this opportunity to share my concerns and support Bill 167,
Mendy Dant
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Mendy Dant
Executive Vice President 11°46
Fair Wind Cruises CommoX90' -1
Ref. T®: P MC,
Kona Sunrise Charters C.�R-N
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Kailua Kona, Hi 96740
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