Amidst the fervent tide of opposition and sweeping
legislation, Americans will soon be approaching a consumer market devoid of
products containing microbeads. Their wanton destruction has been long documented
by various environmentalists and scientists who have been pushing for their banning
for years now. Given the information and pictures we’ve all seen of microbeads’
destruction to the environment, one has to question why companies even chose to
use microbeads in the first place.
In a statement issued by P&G, Crest’s parent company,
polyethylene microbeads are considered harmless to our health. The polyethylene
is an FDA-approved food additive that shows no inherent risks to those that use
it (although several dentists have mentioned microbeads getting stuck in gums
and causing dental issues, much akin to a splinter stuck under the skin).
Microbeads were included in toothpastes due to positive feedback
received from consumers, but dentists are saying the only caveat to having
microbeads in the toothpaste is purely for aesthetic value. Trish Walraven, a
dental hygienist, states, "They were added to provide color — to make you
go, ‘Oh, my toothpaste is really pretty. They provide no scrubbing action. They
provide no dermatological or dental benefit. And because microbeads are plastic
(made primarily from polyethylene and acrylates copolymer), they don’t degrade.”
Although microbeads appear harmless to us, the effects they
have on our environment is tremendous. Just think: trillions of microbeads have
been released into natural habitats where they disrupt natural patterns and
make their way back to our plates, health risks included. And why?
Well, because microbeads look pretty cool.
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