Microbead

This article is about plastic microspheres commonly used in cosmetics. For microbeads of varying composition that are used in research, see Microbead (research). For other uses, see Microsphere (disambiguation).
Microbead legislation around the world
  Full ban
  Manufacture and import ban
  Regional manufacture, import, or sales ban

Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension.[1] They are most frequently made of polyethylene but can be of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. They are used in exfoliating personal care products, toothpastes, and in biomedical and health-science research.[2]

Microbeads can cause plastic particle water pollution and pose an environmental hazard for aquatic animals in freshwater and ocean water. In the United States, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 phased out microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics by July 2017.[3] Several other countries have also banned microbeads from rinse-off cosmetics, including Canada, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

  1. ^ Arthur et al. (eds.). 2009. Proceedings of the International Research Workshop on the Occurrence, Effects, and Fate of Microplastic Marine Debris. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Technical Memorandum. NOS-OR&R-30
  2. ^ "Microbeads, Meal kits, You and Yours - BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  3. ^ "H.R.1321 - Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015". Congress.gov. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.