Latest new ban coming soon

[retro-man]

I do a lot of work in our statehouse on bills and pending regulations. The latest one coming across is a world wide ban on micro-beads. These are included in many items. Toothpaste, facial and body scrubs, mattresses etc. The problem is that they are not caught by the sewerage treatment plants, being so small and are discharged into rivers and the ocean. Aquatic life are ingesting them and then we are eating them. This is supposed to take effect by 2017. The European trades are backing this along with many states here in the US. It is going to be a global push to stop these in production. Time to help nature takes its course and every little bit helps.

Jon

 

[jetcone]

what are they made out of?

and what are they in toothpaste for??

 

 

 

[chachp]

Roughage?

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Sorry.  Couldn't resist.</span>

 

[kb0nes]

Minnesota banned plastic microbeads earlier this year.

It is a darned shame that they turned to using plastic like this, we are slowly covering the Planet in plastic.

One of my (ex)favorite industrial hand cleaners used plastic microbeads. I found a new one that I like better that has walnut hulls in it. Hopefully they don't harm aquatic life and maybe they biodegrade.

The use of the microbeads in toothpaste was pretty common in the "whitening" products. A little added abrasion helps apparently. There are thoughts in the dental community that the microbeads can get trapped under the gum line and hasten the development of gingivitis.

 

[tomturbomatic]

In the 50s and 60s there were powered hand soaps on the scale of Boraxo that used corn meal for the abrasive agent, but it tended to stay, swell and eventually clog the P trap.

 

[davey7]

Illinois (or at least Chicago)banned them as well since they were being found in fish. Though many wouldn't mind the Asian Carp being weighed down with them - 'cept they are now an export crop believe it or not.

 

[dustin92]

Hmmm. Never realized those little things were plastic. Bath and Body Works hand soaps (Love them!) are loaded with the things, but won't quit using them just because of that. May consider switching to the foaming liquids rather than gels. Have enough stashed to last until Christmas at least so won't be for a while!

 

[tolivac]

The plastic "microbeads" were also used in airblast cleaning abrasive devices-as a very mild abrasive agent-polishing metal parts without causing damage.For heavier work-you would use glass beads as we do here at work for cleaning arced up transmitter parts!The glass beads can be reused several times.For air blast polishing-the crushed nutshells were used before the plastic beads-guess now it will be going back to the crushed nutshells.The main problem is not the plastics themselves-but the folks that carelessly dispose of them.And use too much!!!Some of which could be used again.

 

[rp2813]

Jerry Brown just signed the ban for California this week. 

 

I've noticed microbeads have pretty much disappeared from the shelves within the past year.

 

[whirlcool]

I remember the plastic beads in a facial scrub that I used to use in High School. I think the product was Noxema Multi-Scrub or something like that. It sure did get rid of any excess oil on your skin. In fact, your skin would become rather shiny when you were done with it. But it really did keep your face clear and clean.