A deadly glitter: environmentalists call to ban glitter

Scientists from New Zealand actively encouraged to prohibit the use of glitter in any form. These tiny particles fall into water, harm marine life, and the process of their decomposition takes thousands of years — the researchers believe that the sequins in the end can lead to environmental disaster.

According to scientists from new Zealand, University of Massey, sequins — it's microplastics that, like other plastic waste gets into waterways, causing harm all over the ocean and the environment. Animals can mistake shiny particles for plankton and eat that harms their livers and generally accelerates the extinction of some species.

Located in cosmetics and other products glitter gets dumped or washed away by runoff, ultimately reaching water bodies. In percentage terms, it amounts to over 92% of all plastic products (about 5.25 trillion pieces), floating in the seas and oceans. Furthermore, sequins absorb toxic substances, and the process of decomposition in nature takes thousands of years, which exacerbates the situation.