Glitter seems like a harmless bit of fun, but its environmental impact has led some scientists to call for it to be banned.
Most glitter is made from plastic, and the small size of its particles makes it a potential ecological hazard, particularly in the oceans.
“I think all glitter should be banned, because it’s microplastic,” said Dr Trisia Farrelly, an environmental anthropologist at Massey University.
Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5 millimetres in length. Their size makes them an appealing – though dangerous – food item for many animals.
Not only have marine animals from plankton to whales been documented eating plastic, often with fatal consequences, microplastics can end up inside us when we consume seafood. One study led by Professor Richard Thompson reported that plastic was found in a third of UK-caught fish.
Some estimates place the number of microplastics in the world's ocean at up to 51 trillion fragments in total.
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Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
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- Valigarmander
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Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Sorry, HotD.
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Too bad you can never really get rid of glitter.
It's probably got onto another planet at this point.
It's probably got onto another planet at this point.
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
I'm coming to the conclusion that the invention of plastic might not have been so great after all. :/
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Biodegradable glitter is clearly the only way.
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Surprising idiots the world over,
I muttered 'light as a board, stiff as a feather' for 2 days straight and now I've ascended, ;aughing at olympus and zeus is crying
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
... Do you need to be sealed in a cleanroom, Missy? :(Heroine of the Dragon wrote: ↑Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:41 pmI'm coming to the conclusion that the invention of plastic might not have been so great after all. :/
Or is faerie glitter biodegradable?
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
I don't eat seafood so glitter stays.
- CaptHayfever
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Last night as I was about to get into bed, I discovered that my wife had been wrapping presents there with her glittery paper.
It took 10 minutes to get as much of that crap out of the sheets as I could find, & apparently I still woke up with some of it on me this morning.
And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

It took 10 minutes to get as much of that crap out of the sheets as I could find, & apparently I still woke up with some of it on me this morning.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
I had half of my apartment under quarantine yesterday until I made sure every last speck of Christmas glitter was vacuumed up.
- Booyakasha
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
Isn't everything an environmental hazard, taken out of its context?
Bunnies are an environmental hazard. So are starlings. Don't lets ban them outright----------just, you know, carry a shotty-too-hotty about with you wherever you go. If you see a bunbun or a starling, shoot it. Shoot it dead. Shoot it whilst cackling in demoniacal glee. Yeah. Go Planet.
Bunnies are an environmental hazard. So are starlings. Don't lets ban them outright----------just, you know, carry a shotty-too-hotty about with you wherever you go. If you see a bunbun or a starling, shoot it. Shoot it dead. Shoot it whilst cackling in demoniacal glee. Yeah. Go Planet.
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Re: Scientists warn that glitter is an environmental hazard.
I actually detest glitter, not so much because it's an environmental hazard, but because I hate getting it on my hands.