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Testimony from the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition A ain
14 PH 3' 24
Bill Number 167, "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE HAWAII
COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE
RELATING TO PROHIBITION OF NON-MINERAL SUNSCREEN."
To the Honorable Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council:
The members of the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition voice our strong opposition to Bill #167, "AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE H.AWAIT COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016
EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO PROHIBITION
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:
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 Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition is a collaborative effort between concerned local
organizations and businesses including, the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center, American
Cancer Society, Hawai'i Pathologists' Laboratory, the Friends of the University of Hawai'i
Cancer Center, the Hawai'i Dermatological Society, Kaiser Permanente, the Hawai'i Lifeguard
Association, Queen's Healthcare Plan, the University of Hawai'i Dermatology Interest Group
Comm.Ref. T :
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Students, and the Hawaii 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 Hawaii Skin Cancer
Coalition. For more information, please contact us at 808-284-9097.
Sincerely,
Kevin D. Cassel, DrPH
President
Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition
4�j8-
Bao Xin Hailey Liang
Medical Student
Dermatology Interest Group
REFERENCES:
1) Barmo C, Ciacci C, Canonico B,Fabbri R, Cortese K, Balbi T, Marcomini A, Pojana G, Gallo G,
Canesi L. In vivo effects of n-TiO2 on digestive gland and immune function of the marine
bivalve Mytilus gall oprovi ncial is. Aquat Toxicol. 2013 May 15;132-133.9-18. doi:
10.10 1 6/j.aquatox.2013.01.014. Epub 2013 Feb 7. PMID: 23434490.
lit42s://Vubmed,ncbi.tilm,nili.gov/234.34490/
2) Carvalhais, A., Pereira, B., Sabato, M., Seixas, R., Dolbeth, M., Marques, A., Guilherme, S.,
Pereira, P., Pacheco, M., & Mieiro, C. (2021). Mild Effects of Sunscreen Agents on a Marine
Flatfish: Oxidative Stress, Energetic Profiles, Neurotoxicity and Behaviour in Response to
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Oxybenzone. International journal of molecular sciences,
22(4), 1567.
https_//dc?i.or�,/10 3390/iims22041567
3) Fel, JP., Lacherez, C., Bensetra, A. et al. Photochemical response of the scleractinian coral
Stylophora pistillata to some sunscreen ingredients. Coral Reefs 38, 109-122(2019).
https-.Hdoi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-01759-4
l�tp „/1phox��lnev�s/209-03-beaclacs-snnscreeras-coral reefs hunl
ht unscreen-coral-reefs html
4) Environmental Impact of Currently Marketed Sunscreens and Potential Human Impacts of
Changes in Sunscreen Usage I National Academies at:
bttps-1/www.nation alacadern 1 es.org/gur-wc�rk/exavirca�ata�t�n tal�m�,act-of-qqriLLnt��
r aarl t t d ctrx creea .µand_T_QtQratia-I.A.anImV_gcts--of changes an-sunscreen-rasa
5) Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (Not certified by the FDA or EPA for this function) at:
httPs://haereticus-labor rcatecf-land_-sea-certification-33/
6) Rogers HW, Weinstock MA, Feldman SR, Coldiron BM. Incidence estimate of nonmelanoma
skin cancer(keratinocyte carcinomas) in the US population, 2012. JAMA Dermatol 2015;
151(10):10$1-1086.
7) Cancer Facts and Figures 2021. American Cancer Society_
Etta :J:I/www.cncer.cglcsnte nt/data?/cancer carg_researchlcaar-facts-and-
statist%tcs/annual-;„cancer-.facts-and-fa,ores/2021_/caDcer-facts.-and gures-2021.pdf.
8) Stern, RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based model.
Arch Dermatol 2010; 146(3):279-282.