Attend April 13 sustainability event to find out how microbeads in many facial scrubs cause pollution

Microbead swap flyerJoin the Office for Sustainability and the Student Sustainability Council to learn more about microbeads and their pollution to our waterways, aquatic life and ultimately, our own bodies.

The event will be held Wednesday, April 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Tinkham Veale University Center food court tables.

Microbeads are tiny plastic pellets found in face washes, body scrubs, toothpastes and more to add scouring abilities to cleansing products. They are so small that they do not get filtered out of septic and sewage systems and end up in waterways. Plastic absorbs what it comes into contact with, especially pollution. Fish and other aquatic life easily mistake microbeads for food and eat them. We, then in turn, eat the fish and absorb more pollution from the protein than would normally. However, recent legislation is requiring that microbeads be phased out of products in the future.

At this event, you can swap your own health and beauty products containing microbeads (look for polyethylene or polypropylene in ingredient lists) for those not containing the polluting pellets. Students are also giving out water bottles and agua fresca.