You know those tiny beads that are inside your soothing soap and facial products? Well, they’re now being banned from the U.S all because they are entirely too hard to dissolve in the water!
According to Business Insider, Obama passed the bill on Monday, December, 29, 2015 after a recent study noticed 1.7 million microbeads undissolved in the Great Lakes of Lake Erie. You know, where most of our disposed goods end up.
One might think it’s not a major issue, but it actually affects all of our natural habitats that live in the water so it’s a big deal!
Those microbeads that are in your favorite “Olay” body wash and other familiar brands containing these don’t dissolve and later get transferred through a wastewater treatment filter, but actually don’t make it through the filter–they’re dumped directly in all lakes, oceans, and rivers!
This law will be officially enforced on July 1, 2017 in every company selling products containing microbeads!
“Microbeads are highly damaging to the natural environment and the wildlife that live there,” Wildlife Conservation Society said in a press release. “Because natural alternatives already exist, a ban on their use in personal care products makes perfect sense.”
It’s said that in New York alone 19 tons of microbeads have gone down the drain, and it’s not doing any justice for our aquatic friends. They harm every species underwater, which then cause them to become ill and eventually die.
“I am hoping we can translate that research into some positive action,” Marcus Eriksen, executive director of ‘5 Gyres Institute’ said.
So say goodbye to all your favorite invigorating products contains microbeads until there’s another method to resist this from happening.
Click here to see what products will be removing microbeads.
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-obama-banned-microbead-soap-2015-12
TSR Intern: Charise W.
Instagram: @planet_reese
