Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Clean, but not green: Emission assessment, forecast modelling and policy solutions for plastic microbeads from personal care products in India

Researchers analyzed 45 personal care products sold in India and found that plastic microbeads were present in face washes, scrubs, shower gels, and body scrubs. They estimated current and future microbead emissions based on product usage patterns and population growth, projecting a significant increase in microplastic pollution from these sources. The study calls for regulatory action to ban intentionally added microbeads in personal care products in India.

2024 Emerging contaminants 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Personal Care and Cosmetic Products as a Potential Source of Environmental Contamination by Microplastics in a Densely Populated Asian City

Researchers surveyed personal care and cosmetic products sold in a densely populated Asian city for microbeads and other microplastic ingredients, documenting the extent of microbead-containing products still on the market and estimating their potential contribution to municipal wastewater microplastic loads.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 186 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis and Characterization of Microplastic from Personal Care Products and Surface Water in Bangi, Selangor

This study detected and characterized microplastics from personal care products and surface water samples in Selangor, Malaysia, finding that microbeads from cosmetics were present in waterways. Microbeads are a direct primary microplastic source that is released with every use and passes through most water treatment systems untreated.

2020 Sains Malaysiana 38 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence of microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) commonly used in Ho Chi Minh City

Researchers examined 21 personal care and cosmetic products commonly used in Ho Chi Minh City and found that 14 contained microplastics as ingredients. Granular microplastics were the predominant form, with sizes varying widely across product types from toothpaste to exfoliating products. The study aims to support regulation of microplastic-containing ingredients in consumer products in Vietnam to minimize their discharge into the environment.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic polymers in personal care and cosmetics products (PCCPs) as a source of microplastic (MP) pollution

A market survey and consumer questionnaire study in Sri Lanka identified toothpaste as the personal care product with the highest content of synthetic polymer microplastics, and found that consumer awareness of MPs in cosmetics was low. The authors estimated substantial theoretical emissions of primary MPs from personal care products into the environment based on per-product polymer content.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbeads in exfoliating products: occurrence, abundance, and potential for water contamination in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Researchers analyzed popular facial and body scrub products sold in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, finding that each gram of product contained 236–942 plastic microbeads ranging in size from 66 to 1,012 micrometers. They estimated that these products release approximately 1.3 billion microbeads annually into local waterways, highlighting personal care products as a significant microplastic source in Southeast Asia.

2024 Discover Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbead nuisance: Estimation of microplastic release into water bodies through personal care and cosmetic products

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.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: Applications in the Cosmetic Industry and Impacts on the Aquatic Environment

This review examines how microplastics are used in cosmetics as microbeads in products like exfoliating cleansers, and how these particles enter waterways through drain disposal and harm aquatic life. The authors summarize the main problems caused by cosmetic microplastics and discuss regulatory efforts to phase them out.

2022 Figshare 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in cosmetics: Environmental issues and needs for global bans

This review examined the environmental impact of microbeads in personal care and cosmetic products, noting that products can contain up to 50,391 microbeads per gram and contribute 229,000 microbeads per use to domestic sewage, with many countries now implementing or planning bans. The authors argue that voluntary industry commitments are insufficient and that global bans are needed to prevent further environmental contamination.

2019 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 369 citations
Article Tier 2

Incidence of microplastics in personal care products: An appreciable part of plastic pollution

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.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 273 citations
Article Tier 2

Reducing microplastics from facial exfoliating cleansers in wastewater through treatment versus consumer product decisions

Researchers characterized the microbeads found in commercial facial exfoliating cleansers — measuring size, polymer type, and quantity — and estimated how many microbeads escape treatment at wastewater plants based on published removal data. The study provides a practical case for banning microbeads from personal care products to reduce plastic loading in freshwater systems.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 257 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic release from facial and body scrubs in aquatic ecosystems

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.

2025 Applied Water Science 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbeads in personal care products sold in Pakistan: extraction, quantification, characterization, and buoyancy analysis

Analysis of twelve personal care products sold in Pakistan — including face washes and scrubs — found plastic microbeads in all of them, ranging from ethylene-vinyl acetate to polyethylene and PET, with most particles sinking in water and therefore likely to settle in aquatic sediments after rinsing. This study underscores the need for stronger regulation of microbead-containing cosmetics in markets where bans have not yet been introduced.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic microbeads: small yet mighty concerning

This review discusses the environmental concerns surrounding plastic microbeads - the tiny plastic particles used in cosmetic scrubs and personal care products - tracing their sources, distribution in aquatic environments, and potential ecological effects. The study supports regulatory bans on microbeads given their persistence, wide distribution, and ingestion by aquatic organisms.

2019 International Journal of Environmental Health Research 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics in Five Popular Indian Toothpaste Brands - A Comprehensive Analysis

Researchers analyzed five popular Indian toothpaste brands for microplastic contamination and found significant variations in concentration and polymer types across brands. One brand contained the highest microplastic concentration at 0.248 grams per gram of toothpaste, with particles up to 30 micrometers including PET, polypropylene, and PTFE. The study highlights that personal care products remain a direct source of microplastic exposure and suggests that regulatory oversight of microplastic ingredients in toothpaste is needed.

2025 International Journal of Current Science Research and Review 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Current research trends on cosmetic microplastic pollution and its impacts on the ecosystem: A review

This review examines the presence of microplastics in personal care, cosmetics, and cleaning products and their environmental impact. Researchers assessed the fate, degradation mechanisms, and routes through which cosmetic microplastics enter the environment. The study also discusses emerging technologies for removing cosmetic microplastics and highlights the need for sustainable alternatives to reduce this domestic source of pollution.

2023 Environmental Pollution 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Physical-chemical characterization of microplastics present in some exfoliating products from Spain

Researchers physically and chemically characterised microplastics from ten personal care exfoliating products marketed in Spain, finding polyethylene microspheres in concentrations between 6-7% of total product weight in some cases. Smaller particles generally appeared at higher concentrations, highlighting these products as a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbeads in Commercial Facial Cleansers: Threatening the Environment

Researchers extracted and analyzed microbeads from four commercial facial cleansers, finding concentrations high enough to raise concerns about environmental release through wastewater. The study adds to the evidence that personal care products are a significant and preventable source of primary microplastics entering aquatic ecosystems.

2017 CLEAN - Soil Air Water 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

This review examines the presence of microplastics, commonly known as microbeads, in cosmetics and personal care products and their pathway into aquatic environments through wastewater discharge. Researchers assessed how these tiny particles interact with marine species and other pollutants once they enter water bodies. The study underscores that despite the existence of wastewater treatment plants, microbeads from personal care products remain a persistent source of aquatic plastic pollution.

2024 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and risk assessment of microplastics from various toothpastes

Researchers found microplastic particles in multiple commercial toothpaste products and conducted risk assessments, determining that microbeads and other plastic additives in toothpastes represent a source of microplastic release to aquatic environments and potential human oral exposure.

2019 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 83 citations
Article Tier 2

The Ecological Consequences of Cosmetic-Microplastic Pollutants, A Study of Flora and Fauna Responses from Beaches to Benthic Zones.

This study reviewed how cosmetic-derived microplastic pollutants—particularly microbeads from personal care products—affect marine flora and fauna from beach zones to deep benthic habitats. The authors found that cosmetic microbeads accumulate in coastal sediments and are ingested by diverse organisms, contributing to food chain contamination and ecological disruption.

2025 International journal of research and scientific innovation
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in cosmetics and their impact on human health

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.

2025 Discover Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of plastic and microplastic pollution towards the Malaysian marine environment

This review examined plastic and microplastic pollution in the Malaysian marine environment, documenting contamination sources, distribution patterns, and ecological impacts on marine organisms while identifying research gaps and policy recommendations.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics (MPs) in Cosmetics: A Review on Their Presence in Personal-Care, Cosmetic, and Cleaning Products (PCCPs) and Sustainable Alternatives from Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers

This review documents how microplastics are widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies as exfoliants, film formers, and texture enhancers. These products wash down the drain and contribute to environmental microplastic pollution, which can ultimately cycle back to humans through contaminated water and food.

2024 Cosmetics 42 citations