Key West is considering a ban on the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Why? Scientific reports say the active ingredients that protect us from harmful UV rays may be toxic to aquatic life.

This doesn’t mean you should stop wearing sunscreen. However, critics of similar bans point out that “banning oxybenzone and octinoxate will drastically and unnecessarily reduce the selection of safe and effective sunscreen products available.”

So what’s an environmentally conscious person who also wants to protect their skin to do?

One thing you can do is cover up with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) shirt — a plain T-shirt works, too. You’ll stay protected and will only need to use sunscreen on uncovered areas.

Be on the lookout for new sunscreens from major manufacturers like Coppertone and Banana Boat. Hawaii passed a ban on sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate that will become effective in early 2021, requiring companies to reformulate their products.

🍍WELLNESS TIP: The differences between sunburns, sun poisoning and when to seek medical treatment for both.

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH BAPTIST HEALTH

Last week you all voted on the question you wanted to us to dig into about Overtown and the winner was: “Why and how was the decision made to put I-95 right on top of the historic neighborhood?”

The decision to expand Interstate 95 right through the heart of Overtown would displace thousands of residents and has impacted generations of Miamians.

So we looked back at the plan and got some insights from local historians into how the choice was made, what other options were considered, and how the expansion of Interstate 95 was part of a larger national trend.

Check out the full story on our website.

Thanks to reader Stephen Keppel for posing the question and to all of you who wrote in with questions of your own. Check out our full guide on Overtown where we’ve showcased a new community event space, covered where to get a great bite to eat, highlighted an awesome couple’s bed and breakfast, and looked at the force behind a longtime community event. Stay tuned as we explore other South Florida neighborhoods this year!

Prosecuting poverty. In an effort to crackdown on nuisances like public drunkeness, Miami Beach hired its own prosecutor to go after people who break city ordinances. You would think they would be rounding up throngs of tourists getting too lit on Miami Beach during spring break. But a Miami Herald review of the cases shows that instead of tourists, it’s mostly homeless people who are caught in the dragnet. This goes against a growing national trend away from jailing people for low level crimes. Meanwhile, city officials deny that they are actively targeting homeless people and tout the program’s success. (Miami Herald)

A mural to save the manatees… A colorful new mural of Florida wildlife in Wynwood merges art and technology to showcase the realities of climate change. The mural, which is a collaboration between Miami artist Reinier Gamboa and MIT graduate Linda Cheung, does this by using augmented reality. When the project goes live in a few weeks you’ll be able to point your phone at one of the animals in the mural and, using an app called Anthropocene Extinction,  a video will pop up telling you about how these animals could one day be wiped off the face of the earth. (Miami New Times)

No such thing as a free lunch? Unless you’re a government worker at Chef Creole. The Haitian restaurant’s Miami International Airport location is giving away free lunches and dinners to TSA workers who aren’t getting paid due to the partial government shutdown, the longest of its kind in U.S. history. What’s on the menu ? Pulled pork and fish sandwiches and a can of soda. Owner Wilkinson Sejour estimates they’ve given away around 350 meals. It’s unclear how long the giveaway will last, especially if the shutdown drags on. (Miami Herald)

Student loan debt in Florida gets an F. A new study shows that student loan debt in the Sunshine State is growing at a faster rate than in other states. The debt ballooned to a startling $89.4 million, a 35 percent increase from 2015 to 2018. The reason? Fewer government grants to help students pay off school coupled with stagnant incomes means families are having to borrow more money to pay those hefty tuition fees. (Sun Sentinel)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

We’ll catch you tomorrow.

– The New Tropic