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Since the pandemic, hand sanitizer has become a household staple. You may have noticed the small beads that drift in the liquid. These “microbeads” are not exclusive to sanitizer; they also appear in toothpastes, face washes, and shampoos. The question is: why are they added, and do they serve a real benefit?
Microbeads are minuscule plastic spheres—no larger than 5 mm—that act as synthetic exfoliants. By replacing natural ingredients such as cocoa beans, sea salt, or pumice, manufacturers can offer a smoother feel, polish teeth, and even extend product shelf life by adsorbing degradable ingredients.
Despite these conveniences, the environmental and health implications of microbeads have become a growing concern. Below we break down what they are, how they affect our planet, and why you might want to avoid them.
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Microbeads first entered the market in the late 1960s, with patents emerging in the 1970s. They became common in personal care items during the 1990s, spreading from toothpaste to shaving creams and shampoos.
Unlike their biodegradable natural counterparts, plastic microbeads are indestructible in the environment. They slip through wastewater treatment, ending up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. As global plastic production has surged—up 620% since 1975—so too has the volume of microplastics entering waterways.
Marine Pollution Bulletin (2013) highlighted that the Great Lakes contain the highest concentrations of plastic pollutants worldwide. Samples revealed numerous multicolored spheres—believed to be microbeads from consumer products—dominating the debris. The sheer surface area of these beads allows them to accumulate toxic chemicals, which then bioaccumulate through the food chain.
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When microbeads are ingested by aquatic life or birds, they carry adsorbed toxins into the food chain. Researchers like Philippe Van Cappellen, University of Waterloo, point out that microbeads’ high surface-to-mass ratio makes them efficient vectors for harmful compounds, including potential carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
Supporting this, a 2023 study in the Yonsei Medical Journal demonstrated that microplastics can disrupt human digestion, respiration, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems in cellular and animal models.
Fortunately, you can reduce your exposure. A simple kitchen hack—using a fine-mesh filter or activated carbon—can remove up to 90% of microplastics from tap water.
