A single wash with an exfoliating face scrub can flush thousands of tiny plastic beads down the drain. Most sewage plants cannot catch particles this small, so they slip straight into rivers and oceans.
🏛️ Must Know
What are microbeads and why do they worry scientists?
- Definition Microbeads are tiny solid plastic particles, usually smaller than 5 mm across. Manufacturers add them to face scrubs, body washes, and toothpaste as exfoliants.
- Escape route These beads wash straight down the drain after use. Most sewage treatment plants cannot filter out particles this small.
- Ocean harm Microbeads end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Fish and other marine animals often mistake them for food and eat them.
- UPSC 2019 This exact worry was tested in UPSC CSP 2019. Microbeads are considered harmful to marine ecosystems, not a cause of skin cancer or crop damage.
Good to Know
📘 Good to Know
How have countries responded to the microbead problem?
- USA The United States passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act in 2015. It banned manufacture of rinse-off cosmetics with plastic microbeads from July 2017, and banned sales from July 2018.
- Global The United Kingdom, Canada, France, and South Korea have also restricted microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics. Sweden, Taiwan, and New Zealand have taken similar steps.
- India India has no dedicated law banning microbeads yet. The Bureau of Indian Standards flagged polyethylene as an unsafe cosmetic ingredient back in 2017.
📝 Previous Year Questions
UPSC CSP 2019 — Why are microbeads a concern?
- UPSC 2019 UPSC CSP 2019 asked why microbeads released into the environment cause great concern. The correct answer is that they are considered harmful to marine ecosystems. See UPSC CSP 2019 GS Paper I, Q30. View this question.
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Great to Know
🌟 Great to Know
What is the bigger picture behind microbeads?
- Primary source Personal-care products are one of the largest sources of primary microplastics entering oceans directly. Tyre dust and synthetic textile fibres are two other major sources.
- Toxin carrier Microbeads can soak up other pollutants already present in water, such as pesticides and heavy metals. This makes ingested beads carriers of extra toxins for marine life.
- India’s exposure India ranks among the world’s top contributors to marine plastic waste. It is also one of the largest markets for personal-care and cosmetic products globally.
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