Difference between revisions of "Microbeads"

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==Legislation==
 
==Legislation==
Illinois became the first U.S. state to enact legislation banning the manufacture and sale of products containing microbeads; the two-part ban goes into effect in 2018 and 2019. Additional legislation is under consideration several other states.  
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Illinois became the first U.S. state to enact legislation banning the manufacture and sale of products containing microbeads; the two-part ban goes into effect in 2018 and 2019. [http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/state-legislation-survey-whats-trending-microbead-bans Additional legislation is under consideration several other states].  
 
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However, not all legislation to eliminate the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products is created equal. Some proposed bills have been heavily influenced by industry, and contain loopholes which thwart efforts to prohibit microplastics.  These loopholes include: definitions of “microbeads” which exempt “biodegradable” particles (which is vague, and could create a loophole for “biodegradable” plastic, despite lack of adequate testing and evidence of true biodegradability); deadline extensions for over the counter products; problematic and narrow definitions of “plastic,” and exemptions for prescription drugs.  Therefore, while Surfrider Foundation supports the prohibition of microbeads, we want to ensure that legislastion will truly address the problem.
 
However, not all legislation to eliminate the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products is created equal. Some proposed bills have been heavily influenced by industry, and contain loopholes which thwart efforts to prohibit microplastics.  These loopholes include: definitions of “microbeads” which exempt “biodegradable” particles (which is vague, and could create a loophole for “biodegradable” plastic, despite lack of adequate testing and evidence of true biodegradability); deadline extensions for over the counter products; problematic and narrow definitions of “plastic,” and exemptions for prescription drugs.  Therefore, while Surfrider Foundation supports the prohibition of microbeads, we want to ensure that legislastion will truly address the problem.
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Next best appears to be Minnesota SF 674-like bills, which do not contain the biodegradable language/loophole, and instead put the burden on a person seeking an exemption to show by clear and convincing evidence that the microbeads completely break down within two weeks in a natural aquatic environment.  This puts the burden on industry, instead of allowing for a “biodegradable” exemption, without sufficient testing or evidence of actual biodegradability.  Although this bill still contains a prescription drug exception, OTC deadline extension, and problematic definition of plastic, it still may be an acceptable compromise.
 
Next best appears to be Minnesota SF 674-like bills, which do not contain the biodegradable language/loophole, and instead put the burden on a person seeking an exemption to show by clear and convincing evidence that the microbeads completely break down within two weeks in a natural aquatic environment.  This puts the burden on industry, instead of allowing for a “biodegradable” exemption, without sufficient testing or evidence of actual biodegradability.  Although this bill still contains a prescription drug exception, OTC deadline extension, and problematic definition of plastic, it still may be an acceptable compromise.
 
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==References and Additional Information Sources==
 
==References and Additional Information Sources==
 
[http://5gyres.org/how_to_get_involved/campaigns-microbead/ 5 Gyres Microbead Campaign]
 
[http://5gyres.org/how_to_get_involved/campaigns-microbead/ 5 Gyres Microbead Campaign]

Revision as of 13:38, 23 April 2015

What are Microbeads?

Microbeads are small polyethylene spheres that are widely used in cosmetics, skin care and personal care industries. They are commercially available in particle sizes from 10 micrometers (um) up to 1000 um (1millimeter). In the cosmetics industry they are usually used as exfoliating agents. Microbeads from cosmetics and personal care products are washed down the drain after use.

Why are Microbeads a Problem?

Due to their small size, low density (they float) and lack of biodegradability, microbeads are not removed by sewage treatment plants. They therefore can easily end up in the ocean, contributing to plastic pollution that is accumulating in oceanic gyres.

Microbeads are about the same size as fish eggs, which means that, to any organism that lives in the water, they look like food. If fish eat microbeads, which can adsorb toxins, those chemicals could be passed up the food chain to wildlife and humans.

Sherri Mason, an associate professor of chemistry at the State University of New York, collaborated with researchers at the Five Gyres Institute in 2012 to collect data on the prevalence of plastics in the Great Lakes. Their research found high numbers of plastic microbeads in samples from Lake Erie and other Great Lakes, in some cases numbering more than 450,000 particles per square kilometer. In analyzing facial cleansers, they estimated that a single tube of product can contain over 300,000 of these beads. As mentioned above, they are too small to be removed by most municipal wastewater treatment plants, and can wash directly into rivers, lakes and the ocean.

The good news: this is a solvable issue. Natural alternatives such as apricot kernel shells and jojoba beads are commonly used by many brands. A growing grassroots public awareness campaign is beginning to convince industry to end the use of micro-plastics in consumer products worldwide and switch to available alternatives.

Legislation

Illinois became the first U.S. state to enact legislation banning the manufacture and sale of products containing microbeads; the two-part ban goes into effect in 2018 and 2019. Additional legislation is under consideration several other states.

However, not all legislation to eliminate the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products is created equal. Some proposed bills have been heavily influenced by industry, and contain loopholes which thwart efforts to prohibit microplastics. These loopholes include: definitions of “microbeads” which exempt “biodegradable” particles (which is vague, and could create a loophole for “biodegradable” plastic, despite lack of adequate testing and evidence of true biodegradability); deadline extensions for over the counter products; problematic and narrow definitions of “plastic,” and exemptions for prescription drugs. Therefore, while Surfrider Foundation supports the prohibition of microbeads, we want to ensure that legislastion will truly address the problem.

The apparent best case scenario is passage of California AB 888-like bills, which do not contain the biodegradable language/loophole, prescription drug exception, or OTC deadline extensions; and which do not contain a problematic definition of plastic. Instead, for example, these prohibit the sale/offer of personal care products with plastic microbeads, with an exception for products containing “natural exfoliants” that do not contain plastic microbeads. “Natural exfoliant” means a substance occurring in and generated by the natural environment and includes, but is not limited to the following substances: walnut shells, apricot hulls, sand, clay, or beeswax.

Next best appears to be Minnesota SF 674-like bills, which do not contain the biodegradable language/loophole, and instead put the burden on a person seeking an exemption to show by clear and convincing evidence that the microbeads completely break down within two weeks in a natural aquatic environment. This puts the burden on industry, instead of allowing for a “biodegradable” exemption, without sufficient testing or evidence of actual biodegradability. Although this bill still contains a prescription drug exception, OTC deadline extension, and problematic definition of plastic, it still may be an acceptable compromise.

References and Additional Information Sources

5 Gyres Microbead Campaign

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes (Eriksen, M., Mason, S., Wilson, S., Box, C., Zellers, A., Edwards, W., Farley, H., & Amato, S. (2013). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 77, 177-182)

Unseen Threat: How Microbeads Harm New York Waters, Wildlife, Health And Environment (New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman)

State Legislation Survey - What’s Trending: Microbead Bans (Surfrider Foundation Coastal Blog)

Plastic Free Seas (Hong Kong)

Plastic Soup Foundation (The Netherlands)