When you think of holiday parties, Or even a more glamorous brand of eyeshadow Glitter might also be a possibility. You can add glitter to everything, from holiday decorations to greeting cards to makeup and nail polish for some extra sparkle. The downside is that glitter can get everywhere. everywhere,Sticking to unwelcome surfaces, such as skin or clothes, requires patience and a lot of effort to remove.
However, glitter is not only distracting and sometimes offensive but also harmful to the environment. It’s hard to imagine Christmas and New Years without sparkles. But it might be time to reconsider our use.
Glitter is actually a Microplastic
Microplastics can be loosely described as small plastic particles. Sizes less than 5 millimeters. The small shards may be released directly into nature or can come from larger plastic materials that are smaller and degrade into smaller plastic fragments. There are two options. [is]There is no precise definition of microplastics. Joel Baker, a University of Washington Tacoma environmental scientist, said that although glitter may not be considered microplastic, he would definitely consider it one. It’s the right size and contains synthetic polymers.
Continue reading: The Fight Against Microplastics
Glitter is often used. MadeThe reflective surface is made from a plastic called polyethylene-terephthalate, (PET). It is coated with aluminum in order to make it reflect. You can also make glitter from polyvinylchloride (PVC), a different plastic material. According to Robert C. Hale (environmental scientist and professor at Virginia Institute of Marine Science), glitter can be made from any number of materials, including shiny, highly colored, or even iridescent. It can also include other types of polymers, as well as minerals like mica.
Simply put, glitter is also a microplastic. Microplastics are everywhere! big partIt is important to understand the impact of global pollution on human health and the environment.
Microplastic Pollution: The Impacts
Microplastics are available in many different materials, shapes, sizes, and have different degrees of weathering. DifficultHale states that it is impossible to quantify their overall impact. Research shows that microplastics are still being used in some instances. FoundEven in remote locations far from human activity. According to a 2019 paperPublished in Marine Pollution BulletinGlitter can be a source of microplastics in the environment, and can pose a danger to many organisms. The NOAA Marine Debris ProgramIt has also been suggested that glitter can contribute towards marine debris.
Microplastics in the ocean can be mistaken as fish eggs. ingestedMarine wildlife. These tiny particles can be trapped in the stomachs of animals, resulting in malnutrition or weight loss. They may also result in lower reproduction rates and decreased feeding rates in some species. These effects can vary in severity depending on the species and their stages of life.
Regardless, although the seafood we eat may be contaminated by microplastics, our dietary intake to plastic particles is not. Very lowOur inhalation and exposure to plastic particles is much more harmful than the indoor environment. Hale says that I am concerned for the health of people as we spend over 90% of our lives indoors. Plastics are found in carpeting, furniture and paint as well as insulation and medicine. It transports our food and drink and, inside, our air.
Plastic is all around us, even everyday items like toys, baby bottles, organizers, storage containers, and food containers. Plastic is everywhere. 2021 studyPublished in Environmental Science & Technology LettersRecent research has shown that microplastics in stool samples from infants were significantly higher than those of adults. This suggests that babies are more likely to be exposed to microplastics.
Those are my thoughts. We know very little at the momentLearn more about the health effects of long-term and high-level exposure to microplastics. Baker states that it is unlikely that microplastics will cause any harm to humans as they are too small for the gastrointestinal tract to block, but too large to pass through cell wall. Even though very small particles can cross the blood brain barrier at the nanometer scale and cause problems, these are orders of magnitude smaller that glitter.
Hale says it is important to consider the chemical additives as well as the physical effects of microplastics. Toxic chemical substances that are added to plastic production are discovered to be hazardous. EfficacyHuman and environmental health. These additives contaminatesoil, air and water can cause a range of medical conditions as well as impairing the immune system and reproductive system. Microplastics can also be magnets and become carriersThey can cause a wide range of health problems, including the ingesting of toxic environmental pollutants that can increase their toxicity.
Are there greener alternatives?
Many companies are now producing biodegradable shimmers to counter the environmental effects of glitter (and microplastics) in general, due to the concerns about their impact on the environment. Meadowbrook Inventions Ronald Britton Ltd.Researchers from the University of Cambridge discovered that nanocrystals are made from cellulose, and they were able to make vegan glitter. Natural material found in cell walls of fruits, vegetables, and plants. can bendUse light to create vivid colors
These alternatives aren’t eco-friendly, however. A 2020 StudyPublished in the Journal of Hazardous MaterialsIt was found that both non-biodegradable PET and conventional glitters made from PET can have an adverse effect on aquatic ecosystems. We cannot avoid contributing. [to microplastic pollution]Hale says that there are many ways to reduce our contributions. Yes, it is possible to reduce the amount of glitter and other microbead-containing items. These are minor, but preventable, sources.
It’s not a bad idea to avoid glitter, but it can be a scapegoat for larger environmental issues. Baker and Hale both state that most microplastics are formed from larger plastics that we use every day. Therefore, the best thing you can do for the environment is to stop excessive and unnecessary plastics use. Choose reusable alternatives, avoid single-use plastics, and avoid plastic packaging.
Baker says that it is best to reduce single-use plastic use and properly dispose of any plastics you do use.