Joe Winstanley
Senior Member & Supporter
Microbeads? No I'm not talking about some overpriced terminal tackle being flogged to gullible c@rp anglers but a source of pollution.
No I hadn't heard of them until recently, but it appears that they are causing a lot of damage to the aquatic environment. This paper on pdf summarizes the problem quite succinctly:
https://conbio.org/images/content_policy/03.24.15_Microbead_Brief_Statement.pdf
Here's an extract:
'Although their small size makes them difficult to detect, microbeads have been found in inland and coastal aquatic habitats and in fish. Experiments have demonstrated harm in fish from plastics that are the same type, size and shape as common microbeads. Microbeads pass through water treatment facilities, are released into natural waterways and become microplastic
debris. Microplastic is ubiquitous in aquatic habitats, including bays, estuaries and shorelines, coral reefs, the deep-sea, freshwater lakes, rivers and
Arctic Sea ice. Microplastics persist in aquatic and terrestrial habitats for decades where they accumulate hazardous chemicals. Microplastic has been reported in hundreds of species globally, including marine mammals, turtles, seabirds, fish and invertebrates. Microplastics cause physical and chemical harm to animals'.
They have just been banned in the US and Canada. If you would like the UK Govt to do the same then please sign this petition:
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/ban-microbeads
No I hadn't heard of them until recently, but it appears that they are causing a lot of damage to the aquatic environment. This paper on pdf summarizes the problem quite succinctly:
https://conbio.org/images/content_policy/03.24.15_Microbead_Brief_Statement.pdf
Here's an extract:
'Although their small size makes them difficult to detect, microbeads have been found in inland and coastal aquatic habitats and in fish. Experiments have demonstrated harm in fish from plastics that are the same type, size and shape as common microbeads. Microbeads pass through water treatment facilities, are released into natural waterways and become microplastic
debris. Microplastic is ubiquitous in aquatic habitats, including bays, estuaries and shorelines, coral reefs, the deep-sea, freshwater lakes, rivers and
Arctic Sea ice. Microplastics persist in aquatic and terrestrial habitats for decades where they accumulate hazardous chemicals. Microplastic has been reported in hundreds of species globally, including marine mammals, turtles, seabirds, fish and invertebrates. Microplastics cause physical and chemical harm to animals'.
They have just been banned in the US and Canada. If you would like the UK Govt to do the same then please sign this petition:
https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/ban-microbeads
