House Votes to Ban Tiny Polluting Microbeads From Your Face Wash

The American Chemistry Council also welcomed the passage of the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, describing the legislation as “an important step to ensure we have one sensible, national standard for phasing out the use of solid plastic microbeads in personal care products across America”. There’s even a good chance that you’ve purchased a product that contains microbeads without even realizing it just because these plastic particles are so small.

“We applaud Monday’s U.S. House of Representatives vote to phase out the use of plastic microbeads in personal-care products”, said Molly Flanagan, a vice president of Alliance for the Great Lakes, in an emailed statement.

“These microbeads are tiny plastic, but make for big-time pollution“, said U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St.

There is also a concern that the plastic could carry toxins into the human food supply. In 2013, IL was the first state to pass this legislation, after research showed that the Great Lakes were being contaminated with the tiny beads from personal care products.

“The concern is that the plastic acts to move chemicals from the environment into the food web and into us”, said Dr. Mason. In any case, if the Senate approves the house bill, the ban on this pinhead pollutant that has been found by the millions in major waterways – including the Great Lakes – would take effect in 2018.

A study conducted past year by the office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman found that more than 400 of New York’s 600 wastewater plants can not filter out microbeads.

In addition to Illinois, California recently adopted legislation banning the sale of cosmetics containing microbeads, including those made of so-called biodegradable plastics as well as synthetic plastics, as of 2020, and both OH and MI are considering similar legislation.

Your favourite face wash might be harming the environment, and it could soon be banned in the United States. “It’s a national problem that needs a national solution”, said Murphy. This year, Erie County approved legislation introduced by Legislator Patrick Burke, making the region the first in the nation to prohibit microbeads in cosmetics.