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Scientists Call For Ban On Glitter, Say It's a Global Hazard That Pollutes Oceans (cnet.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNET: Whether you love to add a little sparkle to your skin, or you think glitter truly is the herpes of the craft world (once it's on you, it never comes off), some scientists are now claiming that glitter is a hazard to the environment. Glitter, along with microbeads, are considered to fall under the category of microplastics, which are defined as plastics which are less than five millimeters in length. Microbeads are often found in facial scrubs, toothpaste, soaps, cosmetics and more. These microbeads pass through water filtration systems after usage but don't disintegrate, and often end up being consumed by marine life, causing concern among scientists keeping a close eye on how pollution effects fish.
"I think all glitter should be banned, because it's microplastic," Dr. Trisia Farrelly of New Zealand's Massey University told the Independent. Historically, glitter was made from mica rock particles, glass and even crushed beetles. Modern-day crafting glitter is made primarily from metals, while fine-milled cosmetic glitter is made from polyester, foil and plastics.
"I think all glitter should be banned, because it's microplastic," Dr. Trisia Farrelly of New Zealand's Massey University told the Independent. Historically, glitter was made from mica rock particles, glass and even crushed beetles. Modern-day crafting glitter is made primarily from metals, while fine-milled cosmetic glitter is made from polyester, foil and plastics.
I curse the bastard that invented it. My house and car have not been glitter free since the kids have been old enough to do "art". Yes, glitter is a global hazard and should be eradicated from existence, but as anyone with kids knows that is an impossible task.
Silly goose, that's literally the first sentence of the news post.
Except chemistry is very specific, and metal glitter is partly aluminum and partly PET, none of which behaves remotely like iron. Think metallised film, "PET is a hard, stiff, strong, dimensionally stable material that absorbs very little water. " This means it isn't biodegradable, and doesn't dissolve in water at appreciable rates vs the amounts being discharged. There is a wiki link too if you google that but it is less direct.