By David Kowalski
(A Brief Foreword from NAL publisher Doug Draper – It is time for Canadians to get their heads out of the tar sands and wake up! This is a health concern and contamination plague on the Great Lakes we count on as a source of drinking water that we should all care about on both sides f the Canada/U.S. border. So far, it is our American neighbours calling for action. When are Canadians going to get their heads out of the tar sands fog and care about this issue too? r have gone along with Harper completely in turning our back on environmental protection?)
Microbeads are tiny plastic spheres that are widely used in cosmetics and skin care products as exfoliating agents.
When products containing the microbeads are washed down the drain, they enter the sewage system. However, the microbeads are not filtered out by sewage treatment and so they enter our waterways.
Initially found in open waters of Lake Erie, microbeads have subsequently been detected in water of Lake Ontario, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, the Erie Canal and elsewhere. Microbeads were recently found in the Adirondack Region in Lake Placid wastewater.
A study just released by the NY State Attorney General’s Office found microbeads in wastewater discharged from 74% of the treatment facilities tested. The true contribution of microplastic pollution is likely greater than that detected since only the easily-identified types of microbeads (spherical and speckled – only 6% of the total types) were studied.
Microbeads in the water are consumed by fish, other wildlife and ultimately by humans.
Fredonia State College professor, Sheri Mason, has researched microbead pollution in the Great Lakes. Mason says that the plasticizer chemical present in the plastic is the concern because it can move out of the plastic and into you.
Certain plasticizer chemicals may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/ .
Another important concern is microbead absorption and concentration of toxic chemical pollutants present in waterways. This could harm fish and other marine life that mistake the toxic microbeads as food. Fish that bioacumulate the concentrated toxins over time may cause harm to birds, pets or people that eat them.
The New York State Legislature needs to back a bill to eliminate microbeads to protect our environment and public health. The Assembly has already passed a bill to prohibit the sale of personal cosmetic products containing microbead
The Senate bill (S3932-2015) has been referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. Unfortunately, there was insufficient support to bring that bill up for a vote last year.
http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S3932-2015
Public support is absolutely necessary to move the Senate bill out of the Committee and to the floor for a vote.
Take Action – Contact your NYS Senator
Urge them to Co-sponsor Bill S3932-2015, the “Microbead-free waters act,” to prohibit sale of personal cosmetic products containing microbeads.
http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S3932-2015
Senate Directory and Identity:
– For phone numbers and to contact by Email, visit: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators
To identify your (U.S.) Senator, go here: http://www.elections.ny.gov/district-map/district-map.html
(A Niagara At Large footnote – People on the Canadian side of the border should also contact their local provincial and federal members of parliament on this …. If you don’t know who they are, look them up on Google – not that you shouldn’t know who they are. If you don’t, one must wonder if you are at all engaged or paying attention to decisions that impact on your interests in this country.)
David Kowalski is a retired research professor and a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Niagara Group and the Conservation Committee of the local chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club
To learn mre about the good works of the Sierra Club Niagara Group click on http://niagarasierraclub.com/ .
Please also take the time to check out and support Re-ENERGIZE Buffalo http://renewnrg.blogspot.com .
(Now Niagara At Large invites all who care to share their real first and last name to use the space below to share your comments on this important issue.)
Niagara At Large 