The United States is one step closer to banning the sale of personal care products containing microbeads following passage of legislation by Rep. Brian Higgins.
Higgins says sewage treatment plants are not designed to filter out microbeads.
"The particles are sucking up toxins in the water potentially contaminating fish that eat them and sending up the food chain to humans," Higgins said.
"So, this is good news relative to the...biological integrity of our waterways in Buffalo and Western New York, but also in terms of our public health."
The fine plastic particles can be found in everything from toothpaste to facial scrubs. Higgins, who is a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, points out that earlier this year Erie County was the first county in the nation to ban microbeads in personal care products.
The measure stills needs Senate approval.