“Eco-friendly†glitter just as damaging to the environment as conventional glitter, study finds
10/23/2020 / By Divina Ramirez
“Eco-friendly†glitter has become increasingly popular these days, fueled in part by the need to find alternatives to conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) glitter, a known environmental risk. However, a new study reveals that so-called eco-friendly glitter is just as damaging to the environment, causing ecological damage to rivers and lakes, as its plastic variant.
The report, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, examined the impact of biodegradable glitter on freshwater habitats. Researchers showed that the presence of biodegradable glitter affects the root length of aquatic plants in less than a month. It also reduces microalgae levels, a source of nutrients for fish and other marine life. In addition, microalgae help in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Biodegradable glitter also caused an invasive snail species to multiply, which could further disrupt aquatic food webs. It’s worth noting that the glitter’s adverse effects could be observed after just 36 days. It’s not known what happens to the water in the long term, added Danielle Green, an ecologist at Angela Ruskin University and co-author of the study.
https://www.oceanhealthnews.com/2020-10-23-biodegradable-glitter-still-harms-aquatic-ecosystems.html#
