HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0771.084 2020-2022 P/CRNrMc,
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COUNTY 1F' 'HAWAII
Testimony from the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition Against
1011 MAY II - ASI 9: 35
Bill Number 167,"AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE HAWAII
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), IlY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE
RELATING TO PROI IIEIITION OF NON-MINERAL SUNSCREEN."
To the I lonorable Chair and Members of the Hawai'i County Council:
The members of the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition voice our strong opposition to Bill 1167, "AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF 111E HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016
EDITION,AS AMENDED),BY ADDING A NEW AR'T'ICLE RELATING TO PROHIBI'T'ION
OF NON-MINERAL SUNSCREEN."
While the purpose of this bill is to protect our island's coastal reefs and reef ecosystems, it may
in fact have the opposite effect and promote coral decline for the following reasons:
1) Recent studies have shown that mineral sunscreens (i.e.,Titanium dioxide,zinc
oxide)and the physical residue they leave in our ocean may cause more damage
to coral reefs,as well as,damage to other marine life.
Additionally.this bill is premature as:
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2) The EPA has convened a national committee of scientific experts to examine the
ecological and human-effects of sunscreens.The committee's recommendations
are expected to be released shortly.The ban may countermand the findings of
this national effort to examine the effects of sunscreen components and their
constituent chemicals.
3) The ban may inadvertently encourage unauthorized selling and marketing of
illegal sunscreen products and promote disingenuous efforts to profit from
illegally conferring reef-safety status on marketed sunscreens.
Finally:
4) The bill will significantly decrease the effectiveness of currently marketed
sunscreens to prevent sunburn, premature aging,and skin cancers. Currently,
skin cancer is the most common cancer type in the United States with more than
5 million cases diagnosed each year for an average annual treatment cost of$8.1
billion.
The I lawaii Skin Cancer Coalition is a collaborative effort between concerned local
organizations and businesses including,the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, American
Cancer Society, Hawai'i Pathologists' laboratory, the Friends of the University of Hawai'i
Cancer Center,the Ilawai'i Dermatological Society, Kaiser Permanente, the Hawaii Lifeguard
Association,Queen's Healthcare Plan,the.University of Hawaii Dermatology Interest Group
Comm. No 11''`N-
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Ref. To: P 1 atl.V MCG
Ref. Date MAY 1 7 2022
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Students,and the 1 Iawai'i Ophthalmological Society. All of these organizations share a common
goal to help prevent skin cancer.
The Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition's mission is to provide clear,concise messages on skin cancer
prevention and early detection for both the public and health professionals based upon current
and accurate information.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on behalf of the I lawaii Skin Cancer
Coalition. For more information,please contact us at 808-284-9097.
Sincerely,
Kevin D. Cassel, DrPH
President
I lawaii Skin Cancerkin Cance •
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Bao Xin I Talley I.ian
Medical Student
Dermatology Interest Group
REFERENCES:
1) I ar'mo C. Ciacci C,Canonico B,Fahhri It,Cortese K, Balbi T. Marconiini A, Pojana G. Gallo G,
Cancsi L. In vivo effects of n-Ti02 on digestive gland and immune function of the marine
bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis. Aquat Toxicol. 2013 May 15;132-133:9-18.doi:
10,I016/j.aquatox.2013.01.014. I:pub 2013 Feb 7. PMID:23434490.
zttps: pail mciI.i chi. ,lv,'2;;4::;449t)..
2) Carvalhais,A.,Pereira. B., Sabato, M., Seixas, R., Dolbeth,M.,Marquess, A., (.iuilhermc. S..
Pereira, P., Pacheco, M.,& Miciro,C.(2021). Mild Effects of Sunscreen Agents on a Marine
Flatfish: Oxidative Stress,Energetic Profiles,Neurotoxicity and Behaviour in Response to
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticics and Oxybenzone. international journal of molecular sciences,
22(4), 1567.
https:.A14.oi.org.I U.5 5'7(a'Jt t<, tf}.j1 56.17.
3) Fel,JP., Lacherez, C., Bensetra, A.et al. Photochemical response of the scicractinian coral
Stylophora pistillalu to some sunscreen ingredients. Coral Reefs 38, 109-122 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s0033 8-0 I 8-017594
114 t : ptP, N.or '! yc'cicli 4?-0.1:17.q, c11.4.:'s-s tirt.w revi cir,iec['sit ml
1 9-(F2-ins.11/1 lc tent1(.144Elit-e-sunserceri-c.4.)n.11-rect ,hunl
4) Environmental Impact of Currently Marketed Sunscreens and Potential Human Impacts of
Changes in Sunscreen Usage I National Academies at:
v na iit nalpockID ie_5.oss2 flVi COVIITICT1 I. rtipoet.-4 r -
rke04,1- uw;c:reew;:and-potentiallikUTIMI-iliWCis-fli-C[141.12, -ill-S1411,ScrStZr1^145,4gc
5) 1Iaereticus Environmental Laboratory (Not certified by the FDA or EPA for this function)at:
org.'proect g seA-ce.rolieui ion-
6) Rogers HW, Weinstock MA,Feldman SR, Coldiron BM. Incidence estimate of nortrnelanoma
skin cancer(keratinocyte carcinomas) in the US population,2012.JAMA Dermatol 2015;
151(l0):1081-1086.
7) Cancer Facts and Figures 2021, American Cancer Society.
trw;:: rorgi'cor ttent'dam'canccr-orgirescarchicaifteer7racts:ipitt
',tat i esian 111131-c WIC Cr- tS-ancl-1 igtirc.*:S":2P2 _ igu rcs-:).0 2 1.ptif.
8) Stern, RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based mocki.
Arch Dermatol 2010; 146(3):279-282.
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