HAZARDS OF PLASTIC MICRO BEADS

 

                      Hazards of plastic micro beads.

 

What is plastic?

A synthetic material known as plastic is made of organic polymers like Nylon, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyethylene etc. It is moldable into various shapes and forms. It is referred to as a long chain polymer of carbon.

What are plastic micro beads?

Primary plastic micro beads are the left over or waste from the manufacture of plastic items. Plastic micro beads are less than 5mm in diameter, solid and do not break down or dissolve in water. Secondary micro beads come from larger pieces of plastic such as bags, bottles and fishing net that are disposed of and subjected to weathering then fragment into micro and nano plastic. These materials don’t degrade or decompose. It takes 500 – 700 years to break down. These materials do not exist in nature and don’t decompose easily.

      TINY MICRO BEADS

        PLASTIC MICRO BEADS

                                                  

Uses of Micro Beads:

These micro beads are a cheap ingredient and it is used in certain ways to enhance their products. It can be found in certain household products and cosmetic products like sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, foundation, blush, soaps, toothpaste and for source of color and many other products. The micro beads are used as an exfoliating agent, used as substituent to natural exfoliating materials like pumice, oatmeal, or walnut husk.

        TOOTH PASTE

        SOAP

               FACIAL GEL

Effects of Micro Beads:

After the usage of micro beads containing products, it is flushed down to drain and dumped into the ocean, river, canals or lake. Micro beads cause water pollution, harms aquatic life, the environment, human health and marine life. Due to UV (ultra violet) from the sun and other environmental factors, these polymers release hazardous chemical particles. This is due to their composition ability to absorb toxins in water, potential to transfer up the marine food.

Impact of Micro beads:

Unfortunately, marine creatures and young fish misinterpret these particles for food and prefer plastic to plankton. The fish’s growth was inhibited by micro beads, which resulted in less active creatures that were more vulnerable to predators. A quarter of fish collected off at the coasts, rivers and canals destined for human consumption in the form sea foods. By the consumption of these foods it leads to health related problems.

The micro beads enters body through inhalation, ingestion and direct skin, it causes disease, disability and premature death at the early stage of life cycle, cancer, change in hormone activity(known as endocrine disruption), reproductive growth and cognitive impairment, air pollution from waste incineration and soil contamination. 

 Steps taken globally against usage:

Survey estimates that around 2, 36,000 metric ton of plastic are floating about globally. Random talk that one tube of facial scrub can contain more than 3, 30,000 plastic micro beads. So, 88 nongovernmental organizations from 38 countries support the “BEAT THE MICRO BEADS”. Many countries like US, UK, Ireland, Australia, France, New Zealand, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Scotland, and Wales have taken steps to ban micro beads products. Netherland is the first country to ban cosmetic containing micro beads in 2014. In 2015, the US government passed the Micro beads- Free Waters act, later banned micro beads containing products from July 2018. UK banned in 2017, Ireland in 2015.

Replacement of Micro beads:

Micro beads can be replaced with scrubbing agents like sea salt, rice, apricot seeds and naturally occurring abrasives. Dr. Janet Scott Reader in the Department of chemistry at the university developed a way of making micro beads from cellulose, which is not only from a renewable source, but also bio degrades into harmless sugar cellulose in the material that forms the tough fibers found in wood and plants. These can easily degrade in water and won’t have harmful effects on marine life.

How to know whether we use Micro beads products:

Types              of   Micro       beads       ingredients

Polyethylene ( PE)   Poly Propylene (PP)

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Poly methyl (PMMA)

Nylon

These are common Micro beads ingredients used in our day today products. Try to avoid using the products which contain any of these ingredients. Check the label of the products.

Conclusion:

Try to go for organic products, avoid using plastic items. Check the products details before your use. Replacement for micro beads can be utilized for your purpose. These can easily degrade in water and decompose easily. Go natural it won’t have harmful effects on marine life, human health and it saves soil.