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Hawaii has passed a bill to block the sale of suncream, becoming the first state in the US to do so. The bill, introduced by Democratic Senator Mike Gabbard, has been put forward due to the

damage it is having on the coral reefs surrounding the island. Many sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which are no banned in the new law, and contribute

to coral bleaching. Over 3,500 suncream brands currently contain these chemicals. But when will the bill be passed and how will tourists be affected? The new law will come into place in

2021, as it is awaiting the signature of Democratic Governor David Ige. Senator Gabbard told the Honolulu Star Advertiser: "Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these

dangerous chemicals in sunscreens. "This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health." Thankfully a number of sunscreens on the market

don’t contain the chemicals that harm the corals and so are not banned. Popular brands Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic have products that are free from the harmful toxins. The change follows

a report from 2015 published in journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. It found that the aforementioned chemicals have a number of negative of effects on coral and

can impact the waters around the island. Endangered animals could also face risks, such as sea turtles and other fish. With over 14,000 tones of suncream found within the water, according to

the study, it is a welcomed step to preventing any further distraction. However, the Hawaii Medical Association disagreed with the new bill, according to the BBC, who stated that there was

a lack of peer-reviewed evidence to back it up. Tourists to Hawaii are increasing with over eight million tourists a year, but a recent volcanic eruption has threatened the island. Hawaii

residents have been evacuated with 10,000 warned to leave. Kilauea volcano erupted earlier today, throwing lava and ash into the air and forcing thousands to flee. Is it still safe for

British tourists to travel to Hawaii? The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has warned British national to monitor local media reports and Hawaiian Air is the only airline to currently cancel

flights.