You may have seen some ads that use micro ads, and you may have used them yourself.
They are a small amount of plastic found in some facial scrubs, toothpaste, hand sanitizer and other personal care products, claiming to help with exfoliating by scrubbing dirt more effectively.
But for scientists and environmental activists, these plastic pebbles are hurting fish, wildlife, and possibly even human health.
The pressure is increased to mark the beads as toxic facial scrubs, using plastic push to ban the use of plastic beads can pollute the Great Lakes, plastic beads will not be harmful when used directly, but once they are
They are so small that they can go through most water treatment plants that do not have filtration systems to capture tiny particles.
Plastic debris then enters lakes, rivers and streams where they can be occupied by water --
Creatures like fish.
These environmental problems have plagued LoblawCompanies Ltd.
Voluntarily announced that it will stop producing microbeadsby 2018 of its products as the momentum of the full ban continues to grow.
Philip Van capalun, an eco-water literature professor at the University of Waterloo, said: "There is concern that these beads will make up the food chain," he spoke on the morning edition of the CBC.
"Since they are small, they also have a large surface relative to their mass, and certain contaminants present in the environment can actually accumulate on these beads as a priority.
"What are the beads?
Synthetic compounds such as PCBs and multi-ring aromatic hydrocarbons can accumulate on plastic debris, Van Cappellen said.
These are known compounds.
Or at least someone suggested
It can cause cancer or birth defects, and these contaminants accumulate on the surface of these small plastic particles as a priority.
Van Cappellen said: "Research has shown that microplastics, including particles, carry these pollutants along the food chain, which may allow humans to consume them in food and water.
If a fish eats plastic and some people eat fish, then the risk of being affected by these cancers-
The resulting contaminants are real.
Van cappellen said there is no direct evidence from scientists that microbeadsposea has a direct problem with human health, but there is concern.
The potential danger of calling for action is why environmental activists in Illinois succeeded in pushing the ban on plastic beads in personal care products in 2014.
That's why AmericaS. House Rep.
Frank Pallone has introduced a bill to ban products south of the border by 2018.
Keith Hobbs, mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
The presence of beads in the Great Lakes is a "huge problem", he said ".
"We have been on our radar for a few years. . .
We did discuss it in detail. at]
"We meet almost every time," he said on February . ".
A month after his comments, the House of Commons unanimously passed a bill calling on Ottawa to add microbeads to the list of potential toxic substances.
The Conservative government said that the Canadian Ministry of Environment will study the dangers posed to wildlife and the environment through microbeads, and the results of the study will determine a federal government --
Provincial action plan.
"The chemical management plan proposed by our government will give priority to the assessment, which will benefit all Canadians," said Colin Kylie, parliamentary secretary of the Minister of Environment, on the 3 Th.
But meganleslie, the NDP environment critic, introduced Marchmotion, saying the government is not acting fast enough.
The Conservative Party promised to solve the pollution problem.
But no concrete steps have been taken to act as the House agreed, "she said in a May statement.
"Now, we need concrete action.
Brian más said Canada should follow the example of other countries to completely eliminate microorganisms from everyday consumer goods.
The government said on Thursday that the ongoing review was evidence of taking the issue seriously.
"This motion calls for immediate action, which is exactly what our government is doing," shane Buckingham, press secretary of the environment minister, said in an email to CBC News . ".
"Environment Canada has launched a scientific review to assess the environmental impact of microbeads.
"In May, John Mackay, a freelance environment critic, introduced a private member's ban on selling personal care products containing beads.
He said his bill would "prevent some manufacturers from gaining an unfair advantage over companies that show leadership and phase out this harmful ingredient to the environment.
"There has also been a change in the postedon of public petitions.
The use of microbeads is prohibited in Canada.
