Microbead

This article is about plastic microspheres commonly used in cosmetics. For microbeads of varying composition that are used in research, see Microbead (research). For other uses, see Microsphere (disambiguation).

Microbeads are plastic microspheres that are widely used in cosmetics as exfoliating agents and in personal care products such as toothpaste, as well as in biomedical and health science research, microscopy techniques, fluid visualization and fluid flow analysis, and process troubleshooting. They are most frequently made of polyethylene but can be of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene.

In the United States, microbeads are defined as manufactured plastic particles of less than five millimeters in their largest dimension. Microbeads are commercially available in particle sizes from 10 micrometres (3.3×10⁻⁵ ft) to 1 millimetre (0.039 in). Low melting temperature and fast phase transitions make this material especially suitable for creating porous structures in ceramics and other materials. Microbeads pose an environmental hazard when disposed of in waste water. Because they pass through sewage treatment plants without being filtered out, their disposal has resulted in plastic particle water pollution with microplastics. Several jurisdictions have regulated the use of microbeads, including the U.S.

Types

Fluorescent polyethylene microspheres are commonly used to run blind tests on laboratory and industrial processes, in order to develop proper methods and minimize cross-contamination of equipment and materials. Microspheres that appear to be invisible in the daylight can be illuminated to display a bright fluorescent response under UV light.

Colored polyethylene microspheres are used for fluid flow visualization to enable observation and characterization of flow of particles in a device. Colored microspheres can also be used as visible markers in microscopy and biotechnology. Sphericity and particle size uniformity create a ball-bearing effect in creams and lotions, resulting in a silky texture and spreadability. Exceptional smoothness and roundness also provide lubrication effects. Colors add visual appeal to cosmetic products.

Black polyethylene microspheres can have magnetic or conductive functionality, and have uses in electronic devices, EMI shielding and microscopy techniques.

Environmental effects

Microbeads from exfoliating personal care products and toothpastes are washed down the drain, pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution. Plastic microbeads can stay in the environment for up to 50 years and accumulate into higher concentrations. For example, they have been found to pollute the Great Lakes in high concentrations, particularly Lake Erie.

Banning production and sale in cosmetics

In 2012, the North Sea Foundation and the Plastic Soup Foundation launched an app that allows Dutch consumers to check whether personal care products contain microbeads. In the summer of 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme and UK based NGO Fauna and Flora International joined the partnership to further develop the app for international audiences. The app has enjoyed success, convincing a number of large multinationals to stop using microbeads, and is available in seven languages. There are many natural and biodegradable alternatives to microbeads that have no environmental impact when washed down the drain, as they will either decompose or get filtered out before being released into the natural environment. Some examples to use as natural exfoliates include ground up almonds, oatmeal, seasalt and coconut husks. Burt’s Bees and St. Ives use apricot pits and cocoa husks in their products instead of microbeads to reduce their negative environmental impact.

Due to the increase in bans of microbeads in the USA, many cosmetic companies are also phasing out microbeads from their production lines. L’Oreal is planning to phase out polyethylene microbeads in the exfoliates, cleansers and shower gels from their products by 2017. Johnson and Johnson, who have already started to phase out microbeads at the end of 2015, will by 2017 not be producing any polyethylene microbeads in their products. Lastly, Crest is completely phasing out microbeads from their toothpastes by February 2016.

Canada

On May 18, 2015 Canada took its first steps toward banning microbeads when a Member of Parliament from Toronto, John McKay, introduced Bill C-680, which would ban the sale of microbeads. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada the government of Canada will be suggesting that microbeads be added to the list of toxic substances in the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA), 1999.

The first Canadian province to take action against microbeads is Ontario, where Maire-France Lalonde, a Member of the Provincial Parliament introduced Microbead Elimination and Monitoring Act. This bill would enforce the ban of manufacturing microbeads in cosmetics, facial scrubs or washes, and similar products. The bill also proposes that there will be yearly samples taken from the Canadian Great Lakes, which will be analyzed for traces of microbeads.

Pointe-Claire mayor, Morris Trudeau and members of the City Council requested its residents to sign a petition asking governments of Canada and Quebec to ban “the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic and cleansing products.” Trudeau suggested that if Quebec bans microbeads, manufactures will be encouraged to stop producing them in their products.

Megan Leslie, Halifax Member of Parliament presented a motion against microbeads in the House of Commons, which got “unanimous support” and is hoping for them to be listed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act as a toxin.

USA

National

At the federal level, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 prohibits the manufacture and introduction into interstate commerce of rinse-off cosmetics containing intentionally-added plastic microbeads. Representative Frank Pallone proposed the bill in 2014 (H.R. 4895, reintroduced in 2015 as H.R. 1321). On December 7, 2015, his proposal was narrowed by amendment to rinse-off cosmetics, and passed unanimously by the House. The American Chemistry Council and other industry groups supported the final bill, which the Senate passed on December 18, 2015, and the president signed on December 28, 2015.

States

Illinois became the first U.S. state to enact legislation banning the manufacture and sale of products containing microbeads; the two-part ban goes into effect in 2018 and 2019. The Personal Care Products Council, a trade group for the cosmetics industry, came out in support of the Illinois bill. Other states have followed.

All state bans except California allow biodegradable microbeads. Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble opposed the California law.

State/Territory	Date Enacted	Effective date	Scope
California	October 8, 2015	January 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics that contain more than 1 ppm of microbeads. Does not allow biodegradable microbeads.
Colorado	March 26, 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
Connecticut	June 30, 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
Illinois	8 June 2014	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads. Excludes prescription drugs.
Indiana	April 15, 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
Maine	March 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
Maryland	May 12, 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
New Jersey	March 2015	Jan. 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads.
Wisconsin	July 1, 2015	January 1, 2018 (manufacture of personal care products)-Jan. 1, 2020 (sale of over-the-counter drugs)	Restricted to rinse-off cosmetics. Allows biodegradable microbeads. Excludes prescription drugs.

In 2014, legislation was voted on but failed to pass in New York.

Local

Erie County, New York has passed the first local ban in the state of New York. It bans the sale and distribution of all plastic microbeads (including biodegradable ones) including from personal care products. Its prohibition on sales is stronger than any other law in the country. It was enacted on August 12, 2015 and should take effect in February, 2016. This appears to be the first ban to go into effect in the country. Four other NY counties have followed suit.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is the first country to announce its intent to be free of microbeads in cosmetics by the end of 2016. State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment Mansveld has said she is pleased with the progress made by the members of the Nederlandse Cosmetica Vereniging (NCV), the Dutch trade organisation for producers and importers of cosmetics. All members have ceased using microbeads or are working towards removing microbeads from their product. By 2017 80% of them should have completed the transition to a microbead-free product line. Among the NCV's members are large multinationals such as Unilever, L'Oréal, Colgate-Palmolive, Henkel, and Johnson & Johnson.

See also

• Cenosphere
• Glass microsphere
• Microplastics
• Plastic particle water pollution

External links

• Glass vs Polyethylene Microspheres
• PSA Documentary on Plastic Microbeads

• Paint and Coatings Industry Magazine, January 1st, 2010 : Opaque Polyethylene Microspheres for the coatings applications
• Claudia Copeland: Microbeads: An Emerging Water Quality Issue, fas.org, July 20, 2015
• Solid Polyethylene Microspheres for effects in color cosmetics Cosmetics and Toiletries.com, April 2010
• [1]
• Phil Willon California lawmakers approve ban on plastic microbeads LA Times, 8 September 2015
• California Lawmakers Approve Ban On Plastic Microbeads In Cosmetics Lydia O'Connor, The Huffington Post,8 September 2015