Target: Congressman Frank Pallone
Goal: Applaud potential ban on the sale of harmful microbeads.
Thanks to the efforts of petitions such as this one, the United States is moving forward with a ban on personal care products that contain microbeads, a harmful ingredient that has led to rampant pollution. The House of Representatives approved a bill that would rule out the sale of the ecologically-unsafe material and the bill, which enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support, will now go to the Senate for approval. Once passed, this bill will represent a major victory in the fight for a cleaner and healthier environment.
The Microbead Free Waters Act would start the process of phasing out the tiny pieces of plastic commonly found in soap, body wash, and toothpaste. Microbeads, once washed down the drain, flow into bodies of water and are often mistaken for food by fish and other marine wildlife. This then leads to the gradual poisoning of the entire food chain.
Although tiny in size, microbeads have had an enormous impact on the environment. A 2013 study by the State University of New York found that the Great Lakes are packed with microbeads. Microbeads are non-biodegradable, meaning that once introduced to the ecosystem, they do not naturally decompose as other materials do. Accumulation has become so severe that Lake Ontario alone contained approximately 1.1 million plastic particles per square kilometer when the study was conducted.
Several states have already enacted legislation preventing the sale of microbeads, but a nationwide ban ensures that these dangerous products will no longer pollute America’s environment. Sign the petition below to congratulate Congressman Frank Pallone, the act’s sponsor, on the passing of this bill.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Congressman Pallone,
I am writing to thank you for your work on the Microbead Free Waters Act. This bill, of which you are the sponsor, represents a major victory in the fight for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Although small in size, microbeads represent an enormous threat to the Great Lakes region as well as the rest of America’s rivers, lakes, and ponds. Your bill means that future generations of Americans will no longer need to worry about the accumulation of microbeads in our nation’s waterways. Thank you for your efforts to stop the production and sale of these harmful materials.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Lluis tgn
poisonious to humans and animals!