What are Microbeads?
Your morning routine is very obvious. What may not be so obvious is what you are washing down the drain each morning. Did you know that you are actually rinsing more than just dirt and makeup? All of the products mentioned above contain a certain ingredient that makes them feel, taste, and look “better”. Microbeads.
Microbeads are small plastic beads within your very own personal care products. Companies market these personal care products as: "exfoliator", "deep cleanser", and "scrub". There are various names microbeads can be found under. If you happen to find a product which contains microbeads, these names may include: polythylene (PE), polupropylene (PP), polythylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and nylon. Their size ranges from 0.0004 to 1.24 millimeters. These microbeads are so tiny that they go right through our sewage system and into our ecosystems and water sources. Microbeads act like tiny sponges, absorbing any toxins that might be present in the water. This creates a highly toxic, condensed substance that is the perfect size to go unnoticed, be ingested by various fish and birds, and come full circle back to our plates.
