"ScrAPES #4- Your Toothpaste May Be Loaded With Tiny Plastic Beads That Never Go Away"

Article- Your Toothpaste May Be Loaded With Tiny Plastic Beads That Never Go Away, Julia Lurie, May 28 2015, http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/05/microbeads-exfoliators-plastic-face-scrub-toothpaste

Topic: Microbeads 

Summary: 
     Microbeads, little pieces of plastic, were found in cosmetics and toothpastes. One bottle of face wash contains 300,000 microbeads, imagine that! These tiny pieces of plastic are harmful to our environment and to our health. 19 tons of miscrobeads are thrown into the state's waterways each year; keeping in mind, they can carry toxins, pesticides, and heavy metals. Microbeads are being consumed by fish and later being consumed by us. It was discovered that eating little pieces of plastic can lead to many health issues, especially hormone disruptors. It is now said, cosmetic companies are taking away microbeads from their products, and the state is tracking down products that are non biodegradable microbeads. 
     I chose this article because I remembered hearing a podcast about microbeads. They were found in the ocean and were being eaten by fish. I found this article interesting because I never knew that in one bottle of face wash it contained 300,000 microbeads and I can't imagine that companies add that much of plastic in one bottle. 
     It is important to environmental science because it is harming our environment and our well being. These tiny pieces of plastic are being thrown into open water where it can be eaten by fish and be carried all over the food chain. I am glad to read that companies and the state are going to do something about the microbeads, but I still fear that little pieces of plastic are still out there. We need to think of alternatives fast and start taking care of our environment.