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ON.15.01
Ban the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products
Whereas,
Water is the lifeblood of the environment and water quality is a matter of urgent concern
to all Canadians; and
Whereas,
Microbeads are non-biodegradable solid plastic particles that are used in cosmetics,
soaps, or similar products as cleansing or exfoliating agents; and
Whereas,
Scientists have identified plastic microbeads as a major source of plastic pollution in the
Great Lakes; therefore be it
Resolved,
That Ontario provincial council of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, in 68th
annual convention assembled urge the provincial government to ban the use of plastic
microbeads in personal care products to protect the environment and all water from
contamination; and be it further
Resolved,
That Ontario provincial council of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, in 68th
annual convention assembled request national council of The Catholic Women’s League
of Canada to urge the federal government to ensure all provinces/and territories ban the
use of plastic microbeads in personal care products to protect the environment and all
water from contamination; and be it further
Resolved,
That this resolution be forwarded to national council of The Catholic Women’s League
of Canada for consideration at 95th annual national convention assembled, August 2015.
Gifted from the Ontario Provincial Council
E&H
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Ban the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products
E&H
Brief
Plastics surround us. A vital manufacturing ingredient for nearly every existing industry, these
materials appear in a high percentage of the products we use every day. Although modern life would
be hard to imagine without this versatile chemistry, products composed of plastics also have a dark side
- their durability and longevity (Gaikwad 2011).
Scientists have identified plastic microbeads from hand cleansers, body washes, deodorants,
toothpastes, and a number of cosmetics like face exfoliates and eye shadow, as a major source of
plastic pollution in the Great Lakes (Froklage et al, 2013 p.8). “It’s certainly no surprise that the Great
Lakes are polluted, what with an estimated 37 million people living around them. However, the
majority of that pollution apparently does not come from industrial runoff, but instead from our
bathroom sinks” (Sutherland, 2013).
The problem is microplastic pollution in the products we use every day to clean our faces, bodies, hair
and teeth. These products contain approximately 330,000 microbeads per tube, and it all washes down
our drains and into our lakes (CBC News July 2013). Unfortunately, these little microbeads are so
miniscule that they flow through the screens at the waste treatment plants, especially during heavy
rainfalls when sewers overflow and untreated sewage escapes (U.S. Department of Commerce/National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Ocean Service/U.S. Office of Response and
Restoration 2013). They wind up in the lakes, where fish and aquatic birds might eat them, mistaking
them for fish eggs (Wiesman 2007). Ingestion can also expose organisms to harmful chemicals that are
either leached from the plastic or adsorbed onto it (Froklage et al, 2013 p.15).
Microplastics have the potential to persist in the environment, travel long distances, attract organic
contaminants, and serve as substrate for organisms, thereby facilitating invasive species transport.
Thus, there is cause for a thorough approach to determining the risk microplastics pose to the
environment.
Dr. Sherri Mason, a chemistry and biochemistry professor and coordinator of Fredonia’s
Environmental Sciences Program, in collaboration with the 5 Gyres Institute, led the first survey of
plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. “They discovered a ‘plastic graveyard’ of debris about 50 meters
off Middle Bay beach – an algae growth a couple of meters wide mixed with a plethora of plastic
waste” (Mantai 2012).
In The Canadian Press news article, Dr. Mason stated, “Pressuring companies to phase out
microplastics quickly in favour of biodegradable abrasives such as grape and apricot seeds is the best
way to deal with the problem. Because of their size and wide distribution, there’s no practical way to
remove the particles from the lakes” (Flesher 2013).
“Even though you cannot see them, they pose a very real threat to human and wildlife health,” said
Mayor John Dickert of Racine (WI) Secretary Treasurer of the Cities Initiative (Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence Cities Institute 2013).
“Water is the most essential constituent needed for sustaining life on earth. By polluting this
necessity we are posing a serious threat to Mother Nature and to our very own existence”
(Shandilya,2013).
ON.15.01 Ban the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products
E&H
Works Cited
CBC.ca. Facial Scrubs polluting Great Lakes with Plastic. July, 2013.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/facial-scrubs-polluting-great-lakeswith-plastic-1.1327850
Davis Mantai, C. SUNY Fredonia leads the first ever survey of Plastic Pollution in the
Great Lakes. August, 2012.
http://alumni.fredonia.edu/Magazine/SearchArticles/tabid/188/ID/356/SUNYFredonia-leads-the-first-ever-survey-of-Plastic-Pollution-in-the-Great-Lakes.aspx
Flesher, J. The Associated Press. Group representing 100 Great Lakes cities calls for
action on ‘microplastics.’ October, 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/29/group-representing-100gr_n_4174797.html
Froklage, R., Lant, C., Misbah, A., O’Leary, E., Payton, E. Assessing and Mitigating
Plastic Pollution in Lake Huron. The Lake Huron Centre for Costal Conservation
by Hydra Horizons Consulting. April, 2012.
http://lakehuron.ca/index.php?page=plastic-pollution-in-lake-huron
Gaikwad, Amruta. Buzzle.com. Effects of Plastic Pollution. September, 2011.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/effects-of-plastic-pollution.html
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Institute - Press Release Mayors Press for Action on
Microplastics. October, 2013.
http://www.glslcities.org/initiatives/ microplastics/5%20-20Press%20Release%20
GLSLCI%20Microplastics.pdf
Shandilya, R. Buzzle.com. Facts About Water Pollution. March, 2013.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-water-pollution.html
Sutherland, S. Geekquinox. Great Lakes polluted with facial scrubs and toothpaste.
August, 2013. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekquinox/great-lakes-pollutedfacial-scrub-microbeads-135239606
U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/
National Ocean Service/ U.S. Office of Response and Restoration The Search for
Microplastics: From Face Scrubs to the Sea. October, 2013.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/search-microplastics-face-scrubssea.html
University of Wisconsin Superior/News and Events/. Great Lakes research continues for
Dr. Lorena Rios Mendoza. August, 2013. http://www.uwsuper.edu/news/greatlakes-research-continues-for-dr-lorena-rios-mendoza_news1523830
ON.15.01 Ban the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products
Wiesman, A. Polymers Are Forever Orion Magazine. May/June, 2007.
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/270
Additional material researched but not cited in the Brief
Burande, A. Buzzle.com Causes of Water Pollution. February, 2013.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/causes-of-water-pollution.html
E&H
ON.15.01 Ban the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products
E&H
Action Plan

Write letters to the manufacturers of products containing microbeads urging them to
discontinue their use and switch to biodegradable abrasives.

Become knowledgeable about the effect of plastic microbeads and how they can
contaminate water.

Beware of products using plastic microbeads and avoid buying products that contain the
words polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephlatate (PET), or
polymethacrylate (PMMA) in their ingredients.

Choose products that do not contain plastic and choose products that use natural
exfoliates such as walnut shells, almonds, grape seeds, sugar, oatmeal and sea salt.

Invite a speaker from your community dealing with health and/or environmental issues
concerning plastic microbeads in Ontario rivers, streams and the Great Lakes.

Write letters to Provincial ministers of health and environment urging protection of
Ontario’s water, as well as enact legislation, to ensure that plastic microbeads are
removed from personal care products by the manufacturer.

Write letter to the Ontario Dental Association and Ontario Medical Association to learn
their stance on the use of micorbeads