Microplastics in cosmetic products

Do you have any familiarity with toothpaste packs that include microbeads, a type of primary microplastic?

                                                                                                                     Source:EveryDayHealth

Are you using a pack of toothpaste? observe it with attention.

Toothpaste packs contain microbeads that is harmful to human body and our green environment.

 Microplastics

The breakdown and disposal of consumer goods and industrial waste releases little fragments of plastic garbage into the environment, known as microplastics. They are found in the air, water, and soil, and can enter the human body through drinking water and food. Microplastics can affect the composition and diversity of gut microbiomes, which are important for human health.  They can originate from numerous items, such as cosmetics, synthetic clothes, and bigger plastic objects that breakdown with time. Typically, they have a diameter of less than five millimeters. Because they can be toxic to the environment and the health of animals, microplastics present an enormous threat because they cannot be broken down easily. More details please read my published article.

Figure: Cosmetics products contains Microplastics.

Source:pinterest.co.uk

Types of Microplastics

Primary Microplastics:

These are small plastic particles that are purposefully made small in order to be used in commerce. Among them are:

 
        Microbeads: present in toothpaste and other personal cosmetic products like chemical peels.
                            Industrial manufacturing uses plastic pellets, often known as nurdles.

        Artificial fibers: derived from materials like nylon and polyester, which can be shed from                                                  garments and other items like fishing nets.

 
Secondary Microplastics:

When bigger plastic objects degrade as a result of environmental conditions like sunshine and ocean waves, secondary microplastics are produced. Among them are:

        Fragments: from bigger objects like bottles and plastic bags.
        Foam: derived from goods like containers made of polystyrene.
        Film: made from bags and plastic wrap that deteriorates over time.

References Papers:

1. The path of microplastics through the rare biodiversity estuary region of the northern Bay of Bengal - ScienceDirect

2. Personal protective equipment-derived pollution during Covid-19 era: A critical review of ecotoxicology impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges - ScienceDirect

3. Unveiling microplastics pollution in a subtropical rural recreational lake: A novel insight - ScienceDirect