http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/-standing-on-the-shore-of-lake-ontario-gillibrand-pushes-new-legislation-to-ban-plastic-microbeads-in-personal-care-products

Standing On The Shore Of Lake Ontario, Gillibrand Pushes New Legislation
To Ban Plastic Microbeads In Personal Care Products

Plastic Microbeads Pose Severe Risks To Ecosystem When Washed Down The Drain

October 27, 2014

Oswego, NY ? Standing at The Port of Oswego Marina today in Oswego, U.S.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Terry Hammil, Port of Oswego
Chairman of the Board, Sarah Eckel with Citizens Campaign for the
Environment, and Oswego Mayor Tom Gillen, urged Congress to pass new
legislation to ban plastic microbeads in personal care products.

Plastic microbeads are found in personal care products like facial
scrubs, body washes, hand cleansers, and toothpaste. These products are
designed to be rinsed down the drain, but the microbeads are too small
to be captured by wastewater treatment plants. They are subsequently
found in large bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes, where they
concentrate toxins and can be ingested by birds and fish, posing serious
environmental and health risks.

Recent reports identified thousands of plastic particles per square
kilometer in Lake Erie and up to 1.1 million particles per square
kilometer in Lake Ontario. This could have a devastating effect on the
Great Lakes fish populations, hurting the $7 billion recreational
fishing industry, tourism industry, and the general economic well-being
of the entire region.

https://twitter.com/SenGillibrand/status/526866606241382400

https://twitter.com/SenGillibrand/status/526866768040820736

http://oswegocountytoday.com/us-senator-gillibrand-pushes-new-legislation-to-ban-plastic-microbeads-in-personal-care-products/