Scientists are currently in the process of trying to ban the use of glitter. Even though they might appear as small sprinkles of joy, the substance that they're made up of is a true danger to us all. They're so small, they can infiltrate almost anything, even water filter systems. They can therefore be found in the ocean and have become integrated into marine wildlife. The consequence? Glitter can get into an animal's stomach and be passed down the food chain, ending up in ours.
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The main problem is that glitter is made up of materials that are particularly harmful to the health of both animals and humans. Derived from oil, glitter is conceived from an aluminium and polythene terephthalate base, which give off chemical reactions and in turn, disrupt the hormonal processes of those who swallow it. Glitter can therefore be the cause of cancer or even neurological diseases such as brain tumours.
Certain countries such as New Zealand want to ban its usage in hygiene and cosmetic products such as toothpaste or even exfoliating cream. However, environmental anthropologist Trisia Farrelly wants to ban the use of glitter completely: 'All glitter should be banned because they contain plastic'.
