microbeads
Exfoliant plastic particles
Microbeads are tiny plastic spheres, typically less than a millimeter in diameter, added to personal care products like facial scrubs and toothpaste as exfoliants.
Because they're too small to be filtered by water treatment plants, they accumulate in waterways and oceans, where marine life ingests them.
Many countries have banned microbeads in cosmetics due to environmental concerns.
Skin-sloughing substance
- scrubClean by rubbing hard
- cleanserSubstance for removing grime
- facialBeauty service for skin
- skincareComplexion maintenance regimen
toothpaste · pore · acne · beauty · mask · complexion · cleansing · buffing
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- microspheresMinute spherical particles
pellets · granules · thermoplastic · resin · acrylic · nylon · synthetic · manufactured
Extremely small in size
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- submillimeterLess than one millimeter
- invisibleCannot be seen
fine · small · granules · specks · diameter · microns · naked-eye · undetectable
Sub-5mm synthetic environmental particles
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
fish · filter-feeders · waterways · sewage · wastewater · ecosystem · persistent · non-biodegradable
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- phase-outGradual discontinuation process
- advocacyPleading for a cause
alternatives · biodegradable · sugar · salt · oatmeal · jojoba · apricot · walnut
exfoliant
Skin-sloughing substance
skincare · toothpaste · pore · acne · beauty · mask · complexion · cleansing · buffing · polish
polyethylene
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
microspheres · pellets · granules · thermoplastic · resin · acrylic · nylon · synthetic · manufactured · industrial
tiny
Extremely small in size
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- submillimeterLess than one millimeter
invisible · fine · small · granules · specks · diameter · microns · naked-eye · undetectable · filtration
microplastics
Sub-5mm synthetic environmental particles
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- ingestionConsuming into the body
wildlife · fish · filter-feeders · waterways · sewage · wastewater · ecosystem · persistent · non-biodegradable · sediment
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- phase-outGradual discontinuation process
advocacy · alternatives · biodegradable · sugar · salt · oatmeal · jojoba · apricot · walnut · pumice
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, pesticides
- exfoliantsscrub, peel, loofah, pumice, pumice stone
- pollutantspollutants, pollutant, contaminant, contaminants, toxin
- water pollutionsewage, industrial waste, contaminants, algal bloom, toxic waste
- drug deliverydrug delivery, injection, time release, delayed release, capsule
- Fine Particlesparticulate matter, PM2.5, aerosols, dust, soot
microbeadssand
Fine rock particles
sugar scrub · salt crystals · oatmeal · pumice · rice bran
microbeadseco-friendly alternatives
Environmentally responsible replacement options