An environmental group is calling for a ban on the use of microbeads in British Columbia.
Surfrider Foundation Vancouver, a group that focuses on protecting the ocean, is scheduled to hold a press conference July 23 along with NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, the Opposition critic for the environment.
The tiny plastic beads, which are found in many products like face soaps, toothpaste and laundry soap, were recently banned by the state of Illinois over concerns of pollution in the Great Lakes.
The beads can damage plant life and are often mistaken for food by fish and other marine animals. The particles can degrade, releasing harmful chemicals into the environment.
Off the British Columbia coast, the particles have been found in plankton and in whales. The tiny plastic pieces have also been found in food served at Vancouver restaurants, Matthew Unger, chair of Surfrider Foundation Vancouver, told Business in Vancouver.
