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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0771.477 2020-2022 - couoc�4 ia� I� r comm TV y i!'Ch!oh,'( to �h ON,,, �Ihm(D��f hd✓Y.'l£-If om mC.i)ove 6.'n vf` Il)l wi (';. 7riz✓� x r��s:, �' rt�;fr✓0'Trr�r c'rf fr< rr<rttsr�rl a;'M✓>rri° �:', ✓;' [hullrrri w To: Chair Maile David, Co-Chair Aaron Chung, and Members of the Hawaii County Council , r r..J C-1 Hawaii County Council Hearing: 9 am (HST) on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 � ,k Re: Strong Support for Bill 167 Aloha Chair David, Co-Chair Chung, and Committee Members, am Lisa bishop, President of Friends of Hanauma Bay and spokesperson for the Hawaii Coral Reef Stakeholders Hui comprised of hundreds of organizations and individuals actively working to steward Hawaii's fragile coral reefs. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in Strong Support of Bill 167 and for your strong leadership in passing this bill today. Corals are keystone species to Hawaiis marine wildlife. Healthy coral reefs are vital to the protection of our islands'coastal infrastructure, beaches, and communities. However, Hawaii's fragile corals have been adversely impacted by many stressors for decades, including chemical compounds in non-mineral sunscreens that inhibit coral growth and degrade the integrity of our reefs. Hundreds of studies in the last twenty+ years have documented the adverse effects of chemical sunscreens on both environmental and human health. Conversely, no studies have demonstrated that chemical sunscreens are safe and effective for the environment or public health. Some additional points which can be confirmed by experts and others testifying in today's hearing: 1. The FDA, not the National Academy of Science (NAS), is the final jurisdictional agency for sunscreens. After a thorough review of all existing studies and literature on the subject, in September 2019, the FDA determined that only the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are safe and effective for human use. All of the 14 chemical UV filters on the market in the US are Not Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective (GRASE). Industry has had over 40 years to prove that they are GRASE, but has not been able to do so because they are not. (grfl� ale,,,,, RAF. Tran_.._.. Ref. ate `aj 'f c LnL tla� f) . " f �ys_'<:�/r'rl(Pr.�ICs 161t"('(}6tS<'7't'C�l1C1d7 �7�p,:rdCF.S�E7I r9Pd<:�?'dt[Y6dRta^ f'B'11dfaldlP'tC'd'de.S, Q. What is FDA proposing for sunscreen active ingredients in the proposed order? A.To establish a final order for sunscreens,FDA is reviewing the active ingredients in these products to determine whether sunscreens with such ingredients are generally recognized as safe and effective(GRASE)for OTC sunscreen use.This proposed order applies only to sunscreen active ingredients listed in the 1999 stayed(not in effect)final monograph.FDA is proposing the following categories of sunscreen ingredients: GRASE*for Not GRASE for use in use in sunscreens because of sunscreens safety concerns Not GRASE for use In sunscreens because additional date needed Zinc oxide Aminobenzoic acid Cinoxate,dioxybenzone,ensulizole,homosalate,meradimate, and titanium (PABA)and trolamine octinoxate,octisalate,octocrylene,padimate G,sulisobenzone, dioxide salicylate oxybenzone,avobenzone *ERASE=Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective,when also in conformity with all other applicable requirements. Q: Why are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide the only proposed GRASE ingredients? A.FDA's review of publicly available evidence has found sufficient safety data on both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to support a proposal that sunscreen products containing these ingredients(at concentrations of up to 25%)are GRASE. 2. The NAS "sunscreen study" touted by Industry is not a study. It is a literature review of available scientific studies already reviewed by the FDA, which determined that chemical UV filters in sunscreens are not safe and effective. Industry lobbied Congress for the NAS "study" in order to delay any legislative action by state and county legislatures to ban the sale of their products, as we are witnessing in today's testimonials proffered by paid Industry lobbyists. 3. Chemical UV filters in sunscreens are ubiquitous in our world, bioaccumulate and biomagnify in human and other species'food chains, are toxic at the current concentrations found in our body and environment, AND there is no evidence that they reduce any form of skin cancer. In fact, telling people to put these sunscreens on and ,. v�kLf .I 1.)lai�i,n"i7lti,l1�:11, l£� :m f ' )sr, t IFN 1, � n it 1 'AL" NA A S)r'<:;I<'rPl+'L�;i7 /diC'P:'f',tdl'r'7¢'itdladdt t7)`f:rarY`/r:7f tflltf d6t;.Yd"tPPs' C"b'7kttft7tlk'de'17L5, cvnphwJ m7, a''llYal"J"h/v O/ Yi",r)?l1'w'-t'.', o/ lhu;1 d14MI(M(V go out into the sun for hours is one of the biggest issues that the World Health Organization has with sunscreens: "increasing intentional exposure to the sun, increases the risk for melanoma." Sunscreens may prevent sunburn, but they have not been proven to prevent skin cancer. 4. Dr Ku'ulei Rodgers who works at the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology is frequently cited in Industry testimony as not seeing any evidence of the impacts of chemical sunscreen on coral reefs. Because she has been specifically cited by Industry as a local expert on the issue, it is important to clarify that Dr Rodgers is not a toxicologist or environmental chemist. She has never measured the levels of sunscreen pollution in Hanauma Bay, studied the effects of chemicals sunscreens on corals in Hanauma, or published any peer reviewed studies on the effects of sunscreens on corals. With great respect, Dr Rodgers has the right to her opinion, but her comments should be considered in context. They are clearly refuted by the hundreds of studies from eminent scientists from around the world in different disciplines, including NOAH, who do research the issue and document the toxic effects of chemical sunscreens on corals as well as public health. Sunscreen Pollution � iuuuuuu Ac Urrulates A' Cars decrease ;,0 Can impair I � dame ! �i% causefemaes".,,, m m nem u w mn ,ilr"rW( o /ht� ('1'n:701 m rly(:A"Y.', "/1( me r'N VW7)7 fM'17d,'i, 1h,''y'7<:1/89 wl vc'v A rO ( of fhdlolPld w 1" Iv Chemical sunscreens are not the only stressor to our fragile marine environments or public health, but it is the easiest one to mitigate, and mitigate immediately at no expense to the taxpayer. Please support and pass Bill 167, a common sense bill that will measurably benefit the fragile biodiversity of our near-shore marine environments and coral reefs, as well as current and future generations of Hawaii residents. With Aloha, Lisa Bishop President �r>It(1), i,3 I1 , lult.11 a'ri �'r„ ";.UYF �hs;itcv,�t� ti.'_ ,,,dd 't111,7 „((, „ ba .S<<. (]l!t l� p 7'