Microplastics in personal care products: Exploring perceptions of environmentalists, beauticians and students.
Microplastics enter the environment as a result of larger plastic items breaking down ('secondary') and from particles originally manufactured at that size ('primary'). Personal care products are an important contributor of secondary microplastics (typically referred to as 'microbeads'), for example in toothpaste, facial scrubs and soaps. Consumers play an important role in influencing the demand for these products and therefore any associated environmental consequences. Hence we need to understand public perceptions in order to help reduce emissions of microplastics. This study explored awareness of plastic microbeads in personal care products in three groups: environmental activists, trainee beauticians and university students in South West England. Focus groups were run, where participants were shown the quantity of microbeads found in individual high-street personal care products. Qualitative analysis showed that while the environmentalists were originally aware of the issue, it lacked visibility and immediacy for the beauticians and students. Yet when shown the amount of plastic in a range of familiar everyday personal care products, all participants expressed considerable surprise and concern at the quantities and potential impact. Regardless of any perceived level of harm in the environment, the consensus was that their use was unnatural and unnecessary. This research could inform future communications with the public and industry as well as policy initiatives to phase out the use of microbeads.
School of Law, Criminology & Government, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: aanderson@plymouth.ac.uk.
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Anderson
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
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Grose
School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, United Kingdom.
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Pahl
Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC), School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
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Thompson
School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, United Kingdom; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, United Kingdom.
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Wyles
D001364:Awareness; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry*; D004739:England; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D003358:Cosmetics; D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Debris; Microparticles; Microplastic; Personal care products; Public attitudes