Chances are, your favorite facial scrub probably contains about a million of those exfoliating microbeads that are supposed to refresh and revitalize your skin after a long day.
But, while you may love these tiny beads, most marine ecosystems do not. In fact, they’re becoming a legitimate hazard to marine life in general.
The problem has grown so much in recent years that the California State Assembly has now passed a bill to completely outlaw plastic microbeads in products, which have already been restricted in Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, Colorado, Indiana, and Maryland, according to Cosmopolitan.com.
These tiny particles aren’t just found specifically in facial scrubs—they’re also added to many different moisturizers and toothpastes.
Although these microbeads are small, they’ve already started accumulating in our country’s lakes and rivers, where fish will accidentally ingest them.
Aside from being a health hazard to fish, your favorite exfoliating microbeads are also putting the people eating the fish at risk for getting sick.
Because of insufficient testing, California’s strict new bill also prohibits the use of any biodegradable alternatives to these beads, according to The New York Times.
Several different companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have already started taking these dangerous microbeads out of their popular products.
What do you think of this new bill? Tell us in the comments!
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