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Incidence of microplastics in personal care products: An appreciable part of plastic pollution
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A review of 88 studies found that personal care products like exfoliating scrubs release about 1,500 tons of microplastics per year into global waterways through wastewater systems, representing up to 0.8% of all microplastics entering the oceans annually. Polyethylene is the dominant polymer and will persist in the environment long after microbeads are banned.
Microplastic had been commonly used in personal care products (PCPs) until it was documented to be a pollutant. The relative contents of microplastics in PCPs decrease in the order of the USA, Europe, and Asia. The geometric means of the abundance and mass of microplastics found in PCPs were 2162 particles/g and 0.04 g/g, respectively. Diameters of PCP-derived microplastics are less than 350 μm. To quantify the exact contribution of PCPs to microplastic pollution, this review surveyed the existing scientific literature and statistically integrated the findings from 88 literatures. Overall, approximately 1500 tons/year of microplastics from PCPs escape from WWTPs and enter the global aquatic environment. According to the PCP consumption and microplastics levels, the mass emission of global PCP-derived microplastics reach up to 1.2 × 10 tons/year. The two figures account for ~0.1% and ~ 0.8% of the annual global release of primary microplastics in the world oceans (~1.5 × 10 tons/year). In the last 50 years (1970-2019), up to 3.00 × 10 tons of PCP-derived microplastics have accumulated in the environment. The main plastic in PCPs is polyethylene, which is known for being a remarkably resistant polymer to degradation. Even if microbeads are completely banned globally in 2020, microplastics that have been discharged into the environment will still persist for a long time and claim our highest attention. This review provided primary information to deal effectively with the problem of PCP-derived microplastic both now and in the future.
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Microbead nuisance: Estimation of microplastic release into water bodies through personal care and cosmetic products
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Researchers found that plastic microbeads in facial scrubs sold in India — made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or cellophane — contribute an estimated 4.7 × 10¹⁰ microbeads (roughly 3.8 tonnes) to the environment annually through largely untreated sewage systems.
Are There Nanoplastics in Your Personal Care Products?
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Researchers examined commercial facial scrubs containing polyethylene microbeads and unexpectedly found nanoplastic particles as small as 24 nanometers within the products. These nanoplastics appear to be byproducts of the mechanical processing used to manufacture the microbeads. The discovery highlights that personal care products may be releasing potentially more hazardous nanoscale plastic particles into waterways, in addition to the already recognized microbead pollution.
Assessment of microplastic release from facial and body scrubs in aquatic ecosystems
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Researchers analyzed six popular face and body scrub products and found an average of nearly 300 microplastic particles per gram, predominantly made of polyethylene in irregular shapes, estimating that significant quantities of these particles are released into waterways through wastewater treatment systems with each use.
Intentionally added plastics in personal care products - A key source of microplastics to the environment: Fate, effects, and mitigation strategies
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Many personal care products—like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste, and lotions—contain tiny plastic particles added on purpose, and this review looks at how these "microplastics" end up polluting our waterways and environment. Once released, these particles are extremely hard to filter out or clean up, meaning they can persist for a long time and potentially work their way into the food chain and our bodies through water and seafood. The takeaway: checking product labels for plastic ingredients (like polyethylene or polypropylene) and supporting policies that phase out these additives are practical ways to reduce your own contribution to this ongoing environmental and health
Microplastics in cosmetics and their impact on human health
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Researchers reviewed 14 studies on microplastics in cosmetics and personal care products, finding polyethylene is the most common microplastic in facial scrubs, body washes, and toothpaste, with exposure occurring mainly through skin contact and ingestion. Despite growing awareness, major gaps remain in understanding the long-term health effects and environmental persistence of these cosmetic microplastics.
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