Microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes is a fairly new environmental issue, but it is growing rapidly and requires our attention in order to minimize and ultimately stop it. Microplastics are plastic particles in smaller size scales, usually particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter (Eerkes-Medrano et al. 2015). Recent research has documented microplastics in ocean habitats worldwide and specifically in the Laurentian Great Lakes and studies have found that microplastics interact with biota, including microorganisms, in these habitats, raising concerns about its ecological effects (McCormick et al. 2014). According to a recent review, the composition of microplastics can vary and often includes polyethylene or polypropylene, but may
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2014). In response to concerns raised by consumers and regulatory agencies and in an effort to take an active part in cleaning up the pollution, many personal care product manufacturers are taking steps to voluntarily phase-out microbeads in their products. Fortunately, alternatives to microplastics are available and already in use in some products (Lohse-Hanson et al. 2014). As the Chicago Tribune first reported, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and L’Oréal already have information on their websites explaining their plans for gradually eliminating the scrub beads from their products and testing for natural alternatives, like ground seeds or nuts (2014). In addition to the voluntary actions, several regulatory actions are being taken in North America, particularly the Great Lake States. One such regulation that targets microplastics is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world–the Great Lakes (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative). As the GLRI website explains, during FY 15-19, federal agencies will continue to use Great Lake Restoration Initiative resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward long term goals for this important ecosystem (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative). Individual states are also taking the issue into their own hands, as reported in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation in June 2014 that banned the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads (2014), at this point, only Illinois has passed phase-out legislation into law (Lohse-Hanson et al. 2014). According to Anderson, as of
2014). In response to concerns raised by consumers and regulatory agencies and in an effort to take an active part in cleaning up the pollution, many personal care product manufacturers are taking steps to voluntarily phase-out microbeads in their products. Fortunately, alternatives to microplastics are available and already in use in some products (Lohse-Hanson et al. 2014). As the Chicago Tribune first reported, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and L’Oréal already have information on their websites explaining their plans for gradually eliminating the scrub beads from their products and testing for natural alternatives, like ground seeds or nuts (2014). In addition to the voluntary actions, several regulatory actions are being taken in North America, particularly the Great Lake States. One such regulation that targets microplastics is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world–the Great Lakes (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative). As the GLRI website explains, during FY 15-19, federal agencies will continue to use Great Lake Restoration Initiative resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward long term goals for this important ecosystem (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative). Individual states are also taking the issue into their own hands, as reported in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation in June 2014 that banned the manufacture and sale of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads (2014), at this point, only Illinois has passed phase-out legislation into law (Lohse-Hanson et al. 2014). According to Anderson, as of