[ad_1]
New research has revealed that personal care products (PCPs) such as face washes and shower gels in India contain high levels of harmful microplastics.
according to a Study published in Emerging pollutants The study, published in the journal and led by Riya K. Alex, a third-year PhD scholar at the Cochin University of Science and Technology, found polyethylene (or polythene, PE) is the predominant polymer in microplastic emissions from PCP.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size – in the form of microbeads, less than 5 mm in diameter and predominantly in the range of 1–1,000 micrometres.
new research findings
The research analysed 45 samples of PCP in four categories – face wash, face scrub, shower gel and body scrub – available in the Indian market and manufactured in the year 2022. The study specifically used products marketed as “eco-friendly”, “natural” and “organic” to examine the validity of these claims. About 23.33% of the products contained cellulose microbeads, and their biodegradability is unclear. Most of these microbeads were white in colour, followed by blue, pink, yellow, red and green. According to the researchers, the white colour of the microbeads may be to hide them from easy detection.
In PCP, microbeads are widely used for exfoliation, as well as delivery of active ingredients and improved aesthetics, among other uses.
The microbeads in PCP are made from materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester, with polyethylene being the most predominant polymer found in more than half of the microbeads.
On average, each analysed sample contained 1.34% of the total product. This ranged from a minimum of 0.04% to a maximum of 5.04%. In 30 g of each type of product, the average amount of microbeads was found to be 0.26 g, 0.90 g, 1.24 g and 1.74 g for face wash, face scrub, body scrub and shower gel, respectively. The highest amounts extracted were 2.30 g, 1.73 g, 1.75 g and 4.87 g, respectively, while the lowest amounts extracted were 0.01 g, 0.13 g, 0.55 g and 0.13 g, respectively.
The average size of microbeads in the samples under study was 640.74 μm, 452.45 μm, 556.66 μm and 606.30 μm for face wash, face scrub, body scrub and shower gels, respectively. Shower gels had the largest microbeads, followed by body scrub, face scrub and face wash.
The study also showed that most of the microbeads were not spherical, but irregularly shaped. This is even worse for the environment, as irregular shapes provide more surface area for absorption of other environmental pollutants, and sharp edges could potentially cause cuts and injuries to organisms that eat them.
The research also found polycaprolactone, a type of bioplastic, in two test samples. Although polycaprolactone is gaining attention as an efficient carrier for drugs and for its anti-aging and antibacterial components, it causes delayed embryonic development and other malformations in aquatic organisms.
The report findings also point to greenwashing in the Indian PCP market, especially in the case of labels such as “organic”, “natural” and “eco-friendly”. Brands rely on consumers not to look at the ingredients list in detail, and mixing natural and plastic ingredients in the same product leads to challenges in identifying the presence of plastic.
Why are microbeads bad?
Like most other plastic pollution, microbeads are very dangerous for the environment. They accumulate in food chains, reach wastewater treatment facilities and eventually reach the oceans, causing aquatic pollution.
Many countries such as the US, UK, Canada, France and New Zealand have banned the production and sale of products containing microbeads, but it remains an unclear issue in developing countries like India. In 2023, India is set to reach the fourth position in terms of revenue in the global beauty and personal care markets, after the US, China and Japan.
Researchers say 2030 microbead emissions forecasts for India are “alarmingly high.” The trend could increase further in the coming years due to retail trade, cosmetic trials and increased purchasing power.
Are microplastics everywhere?
Yes, microplastics are present almost everywhere. A recent study by Toxics Link, an NGO working in the field of environmental research and advocacy, found that there were 6.71 to 89.15 pieces of microplastics per kilogram of dry weight, and the size ranged between 0.1 mm to 5 mm, in various types of salt and sugar.
Microplastics have also been found in the human brain, blood, lungs, colon, placenta, testicles and feces.
The study advocates better policies to control microplastic pollution in India, and suggests coffee, apricot, walnut, kiwi seeds and soluble cellulose beads as some natural and sustainable alternatives to microbeads in PCP.
[ad_2]
Source link