Scientists Call Glitter Ban To Save Environment

Scientists have called to ban plastic glitter use globally for the damage it does to the environment. The plastic pollutes the water and ocean and is also eaten by the animals in it.

Dr. Trisia Farrelly, a scientist at New Zealand’s Massey University, said the microplastic glitter should be banned. These small particles ultimately wind up in oceans and lakes.

Researchers estimated in 2014 that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic weighing nearly 270,000 tons are drifting in seas across the globe. What’s more, microplastics account for 92.4% of this floating plastic waste while microbeads, used in beauty products, is the largest source.

The size of microplastics makes them look like food particles to fish and other marine life. Professor Richard Thompson did a study and discovered a third of fish caught in the United Kingdom contained plastic particles.