To: Administer Gina McCarthy, EPA HQ, President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Ban the use and sale of microbeads
A single tube of face wash can contain over 330,000 microbeads and well over 1,000 personal cleansing products contain microbeads. Most treatment plants do not have filters that are fine enough to filter and capture these 0.5mm beads, causing them to slip through and into our waterways. Please place an immediate ban the use and sale of microbeads.
Why is this important?
Did you know that a single tube of face wash can contain over 330,000 microbeads and well over 1,000 personal cleansing products contain microbeads?
Several studies have shown that microbeads absorb pesticides and other toxic chemicals as they go down the drain. Most treatment plants do not have filters that are fine enough to filter and capture these 0.5mm beads, causing them to slip through and into our waterways. This is causing fish, birds, and other animals to mistake these beads for food, which leads to them ingest these plastics–bringing these microbeads to our plates.
This is an extremely dangerous matter that is allegedly good for the skin, but is an extremely alarming issue that is and will continue to impact our oceans and environment. We do not have the technology, manpower or equipment to easily remove these 0.5mm beads from our oceans and as of right now, the problem is just continuing to grow.
The State of California and New York recently passed legislation prohibiting the production, manufacture, distribution, and sale of products containing plastic beads fewer than 5 millimeters in size. The Wisconsin Legislature and several members of Congress have also introduced similar bills this year.
I need your help in making sure we keep our water ways clean and healthy!
Several studies have shown that microbeads absorb pesticides and other toxic chemicals as they go down the drain. Most treatment plants do not have filters that are fine enough to filter and capture these 0.5mm beads, causing them to slip through and into our waterways. This is causing fish, birds, and other animals to mistake these beads for food, which leads to them ingest these plastics–bringing these microbeads to our plates.
This is an extremely dangerous matter that is allegedly good for the skin, but is an extremely alarming issue that is and will continue to impact our oceans and environment. We do not have the technology, manpower or equipment to easily remove these 0.5mm beads from our oceans and as of right now, the problem is just continuing to grow.
The State of California and New York recently passed legislation prohibiting the production, manufacture, distribution, and sale of products containing plastic beads fewer than 5 millimeters in size. The Wisconsin Legislature and several members of Congress have also introduced similar bills this year.
I need your help in making sure we keep our water ways clean and healthy!