Scientists propose a ban on glitter, Details
Scientists propose a ban on glitter, Details

Scientists have called for glitter to be banned around the globe.

Glitter, which is commonly used in arts and crafts, is comprised of small plastic particles. Scientists argue the particles get into the ocean and the environment where animals eat it.

Professor Richard Thompson did a study and discovered a third of fish caught in the United Kingdom contained plastic particles.

“I was quite concerned when somebody bought my daughters some shower gel that had glitter particles in it,” he told The Independent.


Dr. Trisia Farrelly, a scientist at New Zealand’s Massey University, said glitter should be banned because it was a microplastic.

Microplastics, or small pieces of plastic, have been known to pollute ocean, including the Great Lakes, the National Ocean Service reported.

The microplastics come from many places, but microbeads, a tiny piece of plastic that were common in beauty products, were the biggest culprit.

The small particles easily get into water filtration systems where they wind up in oceans and lakes.

The BBC reported that some British nurseries have banned using glitter in its establishments due to the “terrible damage” the arts supplies does to the environment.

Some states in the U.S. have banned using microbeads in beauty and health products.

If a ban comes, it will be bad news for the people who paid $85,000 for the website offering to ship your enemies envelopes full of glitter in the mail.

Entrepreneur Mathew Carpenter, 22, took home the massive payday after putting up for sale on website marketplace Flippa.

The site became a viral sensation after launching two years ago, and Mr Carpenter claims the attention led to more than 2000 orders worth over $20,000 in just a few hours.

“I launched this website as a bit of a joke not expecting this level of attention,” he wrote to explain why he was selling. “Heck, I launched this website whilst I was on holiday!”

The website promised “one letter, endless frustration” for the recipient and anonymity for the sender, all for just $9.99.

“We really dislike glitter, the website reads. It’s in our clothes, hair, under the sofa and how ever many times you ever vacuum that carpet there’s still glitter left. Now you can spread this wonderful experience to a person you dislike.

“It may be your neighbour, your boss, or that idiot next door who can’t keep his TV sound down. We will send it in an envelope, together with a note describing how much their life is going to suck.

“The glitter will be hidden within the note, guaranteeing maximum spread as the victim opens to read it.”


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