Microbeads are the small plastic balls most commonly known about because of their exfoliating purpose in facewash. They are also used in other beauty products like toothpaste and deodorant. In recent years, the issue of the effect that microbeads have on the environment has been addressed. These plastic spheres travel from our drains to oceans, rivers, and lakes to be ingested by the marine life that inhabits those bodies of water. After former President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act to get rid of microbeads in late December of 2015, the goal has been to replace the way manufacturers make the beads so that they are not harmful to the environment. By July 1, 2017, the manufacturing of the microbeads was to be halted and by July 1, 2018, microbeads will no longer be found in products used to cleanse or exfoliate the body (“Laws & Regulations – The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs”). Microbeads and other plastics have been a known issue and moves have been made as an effort to decrease the damage they have on the environment. However, they continue to have a huge effect on our planet. Some of the ways that they are disposed of have a direct effect on not only the health of the earth and wildlife, but on humans as well.
Plastic only recently came into popularity during the 1960s but before then, natural rubber supplies were running low during World War II so a lot of effort was put in to develop a reliable alternative. As a result, the production of “thermoplastics such as polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate” (Perschbascher, “History and Evolution of the Microbead”) had begun. Production of polyethylenes increased exponentially and prices dropped making plastics an obvious hit for its durability and inexpensiveness. Plastic became a regular product and its uses were innumerable. Microbeads began to be regularly marketed in products like facewash, toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, and other personal care products. They were included for their exfoliant qualities and the soft texture they left behind (Perschbascher, “History and Evolution of the Microbead”). In some products, microbeads could prolong shelf life by absorbing degradable ingredients (Perschbascher, “History and Evolution of the Microbead”). However, what was not realized was the detrimental impact they would have on the environment.
Because microbeads are so small, (ranging from one millimeter to five millimeters in size (“Laws & Regulations – The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs”)) they pass through drains and filtration systems with ease and end up in lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. They thrive in cooler temperatures and therefore can last up to centuries in bodies of water like the Great Lakes (Perschbacher, “Tiny Plastics Inflict Huge Environmental and Human Health Impact”). There, they wreak havoc on the ecosystems where they are mistaken for food and ingested by fish, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife. The harmful chemicals affect the reproductive systems of those organisms that ingest them. Microbeads can also end up in fertilizer and thereby into our fields. When it rains, they travel with the groundwater and end up in bodies of water that way as well (Perschbacher, “Tiny Plastics Inflict Huge Environmental and Human Health Impact”). Our waterways continue to build up with plastic waste at alarming rates because of our overuse of the harmful material. If not dealt with, bodies of water could become overrun with plastics as well as other pollutants.
Aquatic ecosystems are not the only thing that are harmed by plastic waste. Mammals are also in danger from these tiny plastic balls. It has been found that microbeads are able to travel through mammals’ gastrointestinal tracts and into their circulatory systems. There, they are absorbed into their lungs when inhaled. Microplastics can also negatively affect the immune systems of fetuses through the placenta of their mothers (Perschbacher, “Tiny Plastics Inflict Huge Environmental and Human Health Impact”). With microbeads being used in our self-care products, we apply them directly to ourselves and even though we do not ingest them, it is not a far leap to assume that they could have consequences on the health of humans as well. The impact of microbeads and microplastics in humans has not fully been researched but it is essential that we get these harmful products out of our biosphere.
In 2015, an act that prohibits the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of microbeads was introduced. The objective was to stop the use of microplastics altogether and have microbeads removed from products or have them replaced with a degradable and environmentally friendly alternative. A few states and Canada had already banned the use of microbeads in cosmetic products but this new law, signed by former President Obama, targets the entire United States and its territories. The law restricts rinse-off cosmetics like toothpaste and other products where microbeads were intentionally added. Dates for prohibition are differentiated between microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and rinse-off cosmetics in nonprescription drugs (“Laws & Regulations – The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs”).
The act works in steps so by July 1, 2017, all manufacturing of microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics in the United States is prohibited and by July 1, 2018, the “introduction or delivery for introduction is prohibited.” (“Laws & Regulations – The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs”) The law allowed manufacturing companies time to make changes to their products, whether that be removing microbeads from their products altogether or developing a more environmentally friendly option. It also allowed for distributors to get rid of the remaining products containing microbeads before the ban goes into effect. Rinse-off cosmetics that are also prescription drugs have an extra year before they are to be removed. By July 1, 2018, the manufacturing of microbeads is prohibited and by July 1, 2019, the “introduction or delivery for introduction is prohibited.” (“Laws & Regulations – The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs”)
Removing microbeads from the environment is a step in the right direction in the area of sustainability but it is only a fraction of the issue. Plastic waste is a serious global problem and it needs to be addressed and fixed in order to make improvements to the earth. The average amount of time it takes a plastic bottle to decompose is 450 years (“How Long Does It Take a Plastic Bottle to Biodegrade?”). Landfills are increasing in size and we are running out of space to dispose of our waste. Plastic ends up on beaches, in the oceans, and even all over our streets. One of the alternative to landfills is incinerating waste and that is just as, if not more harmful to the environment. The chemicals released into the atmosphere from burning plastic are extremely toxic and can travel for thousands of kilometers (depending on climate conditions) before they drop back down to the earth and enter the food chain (“Health and Environmental Effects of Burning Waste Plastics”). Chemicals like carbon monoxide, dioxin, and furan are released when plastic is burned and have been linked to illnesses such as cancer and repertory diseases (Harkin, “The Danger of Burning Plastic”).
Recycling is by far the best option for plastic waste disposal and only a few states have passed legislation that makes the recycling of plastic bottles mandatory (“Mandatory Plastic Recycling Legislation”). Although these laws are beginning to become more strict, our plastic consumption is at an all-time high and continues to increase. Some states charge customers a fee if they choose to use their plastic bags while in others, a discount is offered if they bring their own. In other states, incentives are offered to reduce litter and increase the consistency of recycling. Bottle Bills charge a deposit to retailers when they purchase beverages from their distributor, and when consumers purchase those beverages from the retailers, they are charged the same deposit which is refunded when the bottle is taken to any bottle return center (Schultz, “State Beverage Container Deposit Laws”). Although great strides have been made to decrease plastic waste, there is still a lot of work to be done to minimize the destructive effects on our planet.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis addresses the way we have been treating our “common home” and calls upon everyone to do their part to help heal the earth. He offers remedies to stop the destruction of our habitats and ways to remedy the damage that has been done. Among other things, he advises recycling as a necessary way to reduce waste (Francis, 22). Pope Francis also urges humans to protect biodiversity and keep waterways and oceans free from pollution (Francis, 39, 30). This encyclical is an important guide on how we should care for the land that was given to us by God. The Pope asks the reader what kind of home they want to leave behind for the children now and for those who come after them. Removing microbeads and other plastics from the environment is a great way to follow his instructions.