Microplastics, microbeads: What you did not know about self-care products

Dhaka, 7 July, 2020: The mass production of plastic has made several sectors dependent on its use for its durable nature and ease of use. But the catch, as we all know, is that plastic gets accumulated in our environment. An offshoot of the problem of such accumulation is the generation of microplastics — caused either due to reasons such as disintegration of plastic bags, PET bottles, particles from wear and tear of tyres or dumped fishing gear — among other things. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines microplastics as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetre.

Microplastics are intentionally added in primary sources such as personal care products and clothing products; or secondary sources that are formed by fragmentation of plastic over a period of time.

Ugly side of beauty products

Of various sources of microplastics, primary sources that wash off microfibres and microbeads into water channels can be controlled. The release of microfibres from clothing is avoidable, as its wash off is not regular and can be reduced by mandated performance standards for domestic washing machines and industrial laundries.

But certain cosmetics and personal care products that contain abrasives and exfoliating material end up in our drains and reach water bodies.

We generally assume that plastic waste disposed into a water channel will not impact us. However, studies indicate that microplastics become part of the marine food chain and get retained in the tissue of fish, which is ultimately consumed by humans.

Many organisms in the oceans remain starved due to presence of such particles in their digestive tracts or because of a damaged stomach lining. Studies have shown a change in reproductive behaviour in fish where microplastics have caused impaired synthesis of hormones required for egg formation.

Ultimately, the shortage of marine biodiversity can end up depriving communities that are dependent on such resources for livelihood.

We have seen several instances in India of microscopic plastic reaching our taps. In a study conducted by Orb Media, a non-profit organisation based in Washington, 82.4 per cent of India’s tap water was found to be contaminated with microplastics.

State University of New York in 2018 took samples from 19 global cities including Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi and found that 90 per cent of bottled water sold worldwide contained tiny pieces of plastic.  Even popular table salt brands were found to have microplastics as discovered by a two-member team from IIT-Bombay’s Centre of Environmental Science and Engineering.

Other than the well-known impacts of microplastics on our marine ecology and oceans, daily use of personal care products that contain microbeads pose serious harm to us. 

Cosmetics are dangerous for they open skin pores, allowing way for bacteria and other pollutants. These microbeads can get stuck in the eyes and also get lodged in the eyelid, thereby injuring the cornea.

The abrasive material used in toothpaste can get stuck in the gums and bone holding the teeth, trapping bacteria and leading to gingivitis, bleeding from the gums and weakening of teeth.

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Posted by admin on Jul 7 2020. Filed under Health, News at Now, News Worldwide, No Plastic, No Toxic. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry