A
daily ritual that cleans your teeth and keeps your breath fresh could be
wreaking havoc on our waterways and ocean. Toothpaste and other products have started
popping-up on store shelves containing microbeads, minuscule polyethylene ‘plastic’
beads. These beads are being advertised as exfoliants in skin care products. In
the case of toothpaste they are used as an abrasive.
The
problem is these plastic microbeads found in toothpaste do not dissolve before,
during, or after their use. This can cause serious problems to your health, and
our waterways. The health risks are due to the fact that a portion of the
microbeads remains within the mouth and can become embedded underneath the gum
line. Dentists around the country began to worry that these beads were causing
more harm than good. During patient visits, dentists and hygienists found the
microbeads stuck in crevices between the teeth and gums. This raised concerns because
the beads could trap bacteria in the gums leading to gingivitis, and possibly
overtime cause periodontal disease.
These
beads are also polluting our waterways. Every time you brush your teeth, these
tiny beads go down the drain and travel through sewers to a wastewater treatment
plant. Due to their microscopic size, microbeads are far too small to be
filtered by wastewater treatment facilities and as a result are discharged into
waterways. A report released by the New York Attorney General’s office
estimates that the state of New York discharges 19 tons of microbeads into its
waterways annually!
This
pollution caught the attention of advocacy groups and scientists, who have
raised these concerns to elected officials. States, including New Jersey, began
to tackle the issue by passing laws regulating microbeads. Federally, New
Jersey’s Congressman Frank Pallone introduced the Microbead-Free Waters Act of
2015, which prohibits the sale or distribution of rinse-off cosmetics
containing plastic microbeads. This bill quickly passed the House of
Representatives, unanimously passed the Senate, and was recently signed
into law by President Obama in December 2015!
Although microbeads are banned for the future, products
containing microbeads will remain on the shelf until 2017. Until then it is up
to you to be a conscious shopper. Read the ingredients list on the box carefully, if you see polyethylene or polypropylene on the list of ingredients it means that product
contains microbeads. Luckily, there are plenty of other natural alternatives to
keep your breath fresh, your teeth white, and your waterways healthy. Happy
brushing!
