Q. Recently which country has banned coral- damaging sunscreens in marine parks?
a) Philippines
b) Thailand
c) Malaysia
d) Singapore
ANSWER:- b)
RELATED FACTS:-
- Thailand has banned sunscreens containing chemicals that damage coral from all of its marine national parks.
- Concerns are growing that lotions tourists use for sun protection are harming slow-growing corals.
- The Thai Department of Conservation said four ingredients commonly found in sun creams were shown to destroy coral larvae, obstruct coral reproduction and cause reef bleaching.
- Anyone flouting the ban can be fined up to 100,000 baht (£2,100).
- The banned lotions are those containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or butylparaben.
- Similar bans have been introduced by the Pacific island of Palau and the US state of Hawaii.
- Maya Bay, on the island of Phi Phi Leh – made famous by its appearance in the film The Beach – has been closed since 2018 after most of its coral was destroyed.
By – ABHISHEK KUMAR