Children's Health Defense By Pamela Ferdinand
Two new studies underscore the urgency of research on microplastics, reporting that potential health and environmental risks from “leave-on” cosmetic and personal care products are largely ignored by researchers and regulators.
Moreover, immediate action is needed to better understand how microplastics overall degrade and take precautions, researchers say.
“Environmental contamination could double by 2040 and widescale harm has been predicted,” said renowned marine scientist professor Richard C. Thompson in a review paper published in September in the journal Science — two decades after he coined the term “microplastics.”
“Public concern is increasing and diverse measures to address microplastics pollution are being considered in international negotiations. Clear evidence on the efficacy of potential solutions is now needed to address the issue and to minimize the risks of unintended consequences.”
Microplastics describe the tiny bits of plastic particles (typically 5mm or smaller) that persist in the natural environment from sources such as tires, textiles, plastic-coated fertilizers and paint.
It’s found in food and drink and everywhere from deep-sea sediments, reef-building corals, and the summit of Mount Everest to human breast milk, placental tissue and blood.
Most recently, scientists found microplastics in the part of the human brain involved in the sense of smell (olfactory bulb), which suggests a potential route for plastic to enter the brain.
“Leave-on” cosmetics and personal care products include items like sunscreens, moisturizers and deodorants. They contain microplastics that can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Packaging may also shed secondary microplastic debris into products, said University of Birmingham researchers in a study published in September in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
A lack of testing on microplastics in “leave-on” cosmetics and personal care products means significant aspects of microplastic contamination are not investigated, even though they are purchased more than “rinse-off” products like soap or toothpaste — say the researchers, led by Dr. Anna Kukkola.
It also means that the impacts of microplastic emissions from these products are overlooked when it comes to regulations and legislation, they say.
Of the nearly 2,400 products the team reviewed across 38 studies, only two were “leave-on” products. Various soaps, body scrubs, face scrubs and toothpaste comprised the majority of all tested products.
“The contribution of ‘leave-on’ cosmetics to microplastic pollution is a critical, yet underexplored aspect of environmental contamination,” Kukkola said. “These particles will eventually end up in wastewater treatment plants or landfills, from which they can reach aquatic environments.
“What’s more, despite the likely extensive skin exposure to microplastics through such products, there is a surprising lack of research to investigate the associated health effects, with no studies found on microplastic exposure identified in this review…
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