Apparently, there are these little things called microbeads in our toothpaste and other products (shampoo etc.) that are really bad for the environment--especially the ocean! Microbeads are really really tiny plastic beads--too small to see! Companies use microbeads to give their product an exfoliating feeling, but they end up polluting the oceans with plastic when they're washed down drain. We use so many microbeads every day--according to the article, enough to cover 300 tennis courts a day--so this pollution is becoming a real problem.
Before reading this article I didn't know anything about microbeads--I think I had very vaguely heard of them once or twice, but didn't really know what they were. I think this is a real problem. The scale of the pollution is just crazy! I know things aren't that simple, but it's seems like the best solution here would be for microbeads to be outlawed so companies couldn't use them in their products anymore.
Source:http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/19/us/8-trillion-microbeads-pollute-water-daily-irpt/index.html
very interesting! I wonder how we'll get rid of the microbeads
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about this and this is why its important to use scrubs that use things like corn kernel meal instead of plastic beads.
ReplyDeleteDarn, I love those lil microbead things. From now on I will not be buying toothpaste with any of those though.. (Zoe Roberts 3rd Period)
ReplyDeleteWow, this story gives a new perspective on seemingly harmless products. I had no idea that those microbeads were made of plastic! There has to be a more sustainable to create the same exfoliating texture. Companies need to stop taking the easy way out and really invest in environmentally friendly technologies and products. Otherwise, our environment will really suffer.
ReplyDelete-Lisl Wangermann 1st Period
This is really interesting! It sucks though that the microbeads are impacting our environment in such a negative way. Hopefully scientists or whatever can find a substitute for it in toothpaste
ReplyDelete