Glitter is also plastic microbeads whose
impact on the environment and health has negative effects. Yet they are the big
forgotten public debate. Whether you're a fan of nude or you swear by the
makeup very visible, there is a product that pretty much everyone agrees: chunky body glitter. Big, small,
multicolored or more sober (silver, gold, white ...), there is something for
all tastes and they are at the origin of tendencies more or less memorable (we
think in particular of this makeup artist who had realized a whole makeup just
with glitter). Yes, but here it is: this passion for all that glitters would
have a very important impact for the environment.
The danger of glitters
often forgotten But the problem of plastic microbeads has been known for years
and Europe is thinking about banning them, says the Huffington Post website .
Because these particles, contained in a lot of cosmetic products (in particular
the exfoliating gel), invaded the oceans. Nearly 51 trillion pieces of
microplastic would be in our seas, according to some estimates. With dramatic
impacts. However, straws are regularly forgotten when we talk about the problem
of plastic microbeads. A problem raised several times since last summer.
"When people think of sequins, they think of parties and glittery outfits,
but sequins are present in products that we use daily and that we do not think
as much, such as makeup pallets," says anthropologist of the New Zealand
environment Trisia Farrelly to The Independent .
Ingested
by animals
Trisia Farrelly, environmental
anthropologist, estimated that " all types of flakes should be banned
because they are microplastics that inevitably end up polluting the environment
." More precisely, as they do not disintegrate " the toxins of the
plastic and attacked with the plastic can be ingested by the animals. Says Lara
Milligan from the University of Florida. Canada and the United States already ban
some microplastics, but straws are not specifically targeted. In response to
scientists' warnings, 19 UK nursery schools removed glitz from their creative
Christmas workshops. Companies have also chosen to turn to biodegradable
equivalents.
Biodegradable
flakes?
According to Dr. Farrelly, straws, when
decomposing, release chemicals that disrupt the hormonal function of animals
and humans who consume them. These dysfunctions are particularly associated
with the development of cancers and neurological diseases, hence the desire of
scientists to see them banned. But at each discussion of microbeads, straws are
forgotten, as shown by the ban on their presence in cosmetics in 2018 in New
Zealand. A ban on microbeads but not chunky
body glitter.
To avoid further filling the oceans of
plastic , there are only two options left: the manufacture of biodegradable
flakes and consumer awareness, which remains more complicated. "I'm tired
of hearing that consumers have to be responsible and avoid consuming this type
of product, it's literally impossible," says Dr. Farrelly, "it's up
to producers to be responsible and offer safer alternatives, non-toxic and
durable ".
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