Page 138 - CW E-Magazine (1-10-2024)

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MICRO MENACE

Study fi nds signifi cant presence of microplastics

in personal care products

Personal care products (PCP) like sharper edges can potentially cause cuts
face washes and shower gels in India and injuries to organisms who ingest
contain a signifi cant amount of micro- them.
plastics, according to a new study pub-
lished in the Emerging Contaminants The research also found polycapro-
journal. lactone, a type of bioplastic, in two of
the tested samples. Although polycapro-
The study, led by Ms. Riya Alex, a lactone is gaining attention as an
third-year Ph.D. Scholar at the Cochin effi cient carrier for drugs, and for its anti-
University of Science and Technology, being the most dominant polymer iden- ageing and antibacterial constituents,
found that polyethylene (PE) is the tifi ed in more than half the microbeads it has been known to cause embryonic
dominant polymer found in microplas- studied. developmental delays and other mal-
tic emissions from PCPs. formations in aquatic biota.
On average, 1.34% of the total
Microplastics are defi ned as par- product of each analysed sample was Greenwashing trend
ticles of plastic that are under 5-mm in microbeads. This ranged from 0.04% Findings of the report also indicate
range. The microbeads used in cosme- at the lowest to 5.04% at the highest. greenwashing in the Indian PCP market,
tic products are less than 1-mm in size. In 30 grams of each kind of product, especially with labels like “organic”,
the average quantities of microbeads “natural”, and” eco-friendly.”
The research analysed 45 samples were noted to be 0.26g, 0.90g,1.24g
of PCP across four categories – face and 1.74g for face washes, face scrubs, Microbeads have been banned in the
wash, face scrub, shower gel, and body scrubs, and shower gels, respec- US and UK, while India does not have
body scrub available in Indian market tively. In terms of size, shower gels any regulation on this. If India hopes to
and manufactured in 2022. The study contained the largest microbeads, fol- achieve sustainable development goals
especially used products marketed as lowed by body scrubs, face scrubs, and by 2030, the study calls for potential
“eco-friendly”, “natural”, and “organic” face washes. policy solutions to curb this intention-
to scrutinise the legitimacy of these ally-added threat from the market.
claims. Around 23% of products con- The study also shows that most
tained cellulose microbeads, and their microbeads were not spherical, but ir- The study suggests coffee, apricots,
biodegradability is unclear. Most of regularly shaped. This is worse for the walnut, kiwi seeds, and soluble cellu-
these microbeads were coloured white, environment, as irregular shapes pro- lose beads, etc. as some natural and
followed by blue, pink, yellow, red, and vide more surface area for adsorption sustainable alternatives to microbeads
green. According to the researchers, of other environmental pollutants, and in PCPs.
the white colour of microbeads could
be intended to hide them from easy Coal India forms JV for renewable
identifi cation.
energy business in Rajasthan
In PCPs, microbeads are widely State-owned Coal India said that it In a stock market fi ling, Coal
used for exfoliation, as well as delivery has entered into a joint venture agree- India said it and RRVUNL will have the
of active ingredients and improved ment with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut right to nominate four and two execu-
aesthetics, among other uses. Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (RRVUNL) to under- tives as directors of the JV, respec-
take renewable energy business in tively. The JV will be incorporated
Microbeads in PCP are made of Rajasthan. While Coal India will have a as a private limited company with an
materials like polyethylene, polypropy- 74% shareholding in the joint venture, initial paid-up share capital of Rs. 10-
lene, and polyester, with polyethylene RRVUNL will have remaining 26%. lakhs.

138 Chemical Weekly October 1, 2024

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