Marine Pollution Bulletin. Vol. 32, No. 12, pp.
867-871, 1996
Pergamon
PII: SOO25-326x(96)00047-1
Plastic ‘Scrubbers’ in Hand Cleansers:
a Further (and Minor) Source for
Marine Pollution Identified
MURRAY R. GREGORY
Department of Geology, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
Small, inconspicuous fragments of plastic, generally < 0.5
mm across (i.e. microlitter) derived from some hand
cleaners and cusmetic preparations, and also used with
some airblast cleaning media, are au unusual addition to
post-consumer waste enteriug marine waters. The
environmental signikance of this material is unknown,
but here is a further example of the intrusion of
anthropogenic waste of dubious value into marine
ecosystems. It could impact sea-surface microlayer
ecosystems and the meiofauna of intertidal sediments. It
is also speculated that these finely granulated plastics,
once dispersed through the oceanic water column, could
prejudice the results of some ambitious particulate carbon
flux experiments as well as interfere with elemental and
mineralogic composition analyses of suspended particles.
They may also warrant attention when determining heavy
metal concentrations in contaminated he-grained sedi-
ments of estuarine and harbour environments. Copyright
0 19% Elsevier Science Ltd
Plastic debris of many kinds is a pollutant of coastal
and open oceanic surface waters whose distribution and
environmental significance has today reached global
proportions (see Shomura & Godfrey, 1990). The most
visually conspicuous and aesthetically distasteful ele-
ments in this debris are larger (macro- and megalitter)
items and degradational fragments coming mostly from
discarded packaging. Much post-consumer plastic
waste, such as detergent containers, beverage bottles
and food wrappings can be considered of domestic or
housekeeping origin, and has sources that may lie both
onshore or afloat. Material directly attributable to the
fishing industry and other marine activities is also
common.
Small polystyrene spherules (mesolitter) generally
< 2.00 mm in diameter are widespread in coastal and
surface waters of the north-western Atlantic Ocean (e.g.
Carpenter et al., 1972; Colton et al., 1974) and have also
been noted in UK estuaries (e.g. Kartar et al., 1973).
The larger, up to 5 mm or more in diameter,
polyethylene and polypropylene resin granules are also
widely reported and are particularly noteworthy on
New Zealand and south-west Pacific shores (Gregory,
Copyright Q 1996 J!kvier S&ma Ltd
Printed in Gnat Britain. All righta nrcned
002M26X/96 $I 5.00 + 0.00
1978, 1990). The sources of this virgin material are
generally accepted to be losses during manufacture and
transport prior to reaching the fabrication stage (EPA,
1992).
The environmental consequences of these small
pelagic plastic spherules and granules, known in the
trade as ‘nibs’, as well as similar sized flakes coming
from the progressive degradation and disintegration of
larger fabricated items, (i.e. mesolitter) has not been
firmly established. There is no doubt that they are
ingested by many seabird and fish species, and the
possibility of intestinal blockage is widely acknowledged
(e.g. Gregory, 1978; Ryan, 1988). It has been further
speculated that satiation on plastics may lead to reduced
reproductive performance, and also perhaps even
starvation and death (G.regory, 1991). All authorities
are agreed that a diet of plastic mesolitter is unlikely to
be beneficial to any animal-at best the effects may be
benign, for plastics are inert.
Plastic ‘Scrubbers’
Recently, Zitko 8c Hanlon (1991) have drawn
attention to a further and unusual source for even
finer-sized plastic (i.e. microlitter) pollution, in skin
cleaners that contain granulated polyethylene, poly-
propylene or polystyrene particles (40-200 mesh = 420-
75 pm) and which are available on the Canadian
market. These authors record two formulations-one of
which was water-based and the other hydrocarbon
(solvent)-based. Similar hand cleaners, which one can
liken to ‘liquid plastic-sand soaps’ are produced and
marketed in New Zealand and are common inter-
nationally. There are also cosmetic preparations, such
as facial scrubs and exfoliants that contain granulated
plastic.
Typical examples of granulated plastic found in two
hand-cleaner formulations are illustrated in Fig. la-d.
The plastic detritus was the residue retained upon
washing samples through a 63 pm (240 mesh, 40)
sieve-this material is the size of fine sand and coarse
silt. The amount of fine white (plastic) powder
recovered from 100 g samples varied from less than 1
g to ca 7 g (Table 1). Labelling describes this material as
‘non-adhesive polygrains’. Burning characteristics and
867
 Marine Pollution Bulletin

Fig. 1 Examples of typical plastic micro-litter from New Zealand

sourced water (a and b) and solvent (c and d) based band
cleaners; an imported cosmetic (facial scrub) formulation (e
and f); air-blast cleaning media, fresh (g) and after several
recycling episodes (h); degradational flakes from the strand-
line, Bermuda (i and j) and used in a contact lens cleaner (k and
1). (a, c, e, g, h, i, scale bars= 1.0 mm and b, d, f, j, k, 1, scale
bars = 0.1 mm.)

laser Raman spectroscopy show the local New Zealand
m is polyethylene. The whitish, translucent-to-
transparent plasticparticles are crudely equidimensional
and incgalar in shape, varying in size from < 0.1 to
>0.2 mm with occasional elongate grains (Fig. lb).
Comparableamountsof plastic detritus (Fig. le and f)
catl he extra&d from a number of cosmetic prepara-
tions (facialand body scrubs) (Table 1) where they may
have replaced granulated walnut and apricot husks, or
perhaps pumice and diatomite. The rough, shredded
surthce of these plastic particles is in contrast to the
smooth surface of unweathered polyethylene nibs
illustrated by Gregory (1978) and the crazed chalkiness
of degradational flakes (Fig. li and j).
In all the formulations available in New Zealand that
I have examined, the plastic ‘scrubber’ grains are
identifiable as polyethylene. In the Canadian material
described by Zitko & Hanlon (1991) the plastic grains
were polystyrene.
Plastic Media Airblasting
The recently developed technology for stripping paint
from metallic surfaces and cleaning engine parts by
Volume 32/Number 12/December 1996

TABLE 1 An appraisal of the possible impacts this plastic

Weightpofplastic;niaograia9(~0.63~diamta)in3cvaallocalh/ microlitter has, no matter its origin or source, on marine
(NewZcaland)availabkhandckaningandamnehcprepmati~
OrganiSIIlSiUldecogystems isdifBcuItatthistime.The
Formulation wt 100 g-1 (ofpmduct) larger plastic nibs have long aince e&e&d a global
oceanic distribution (Gregory & Ryan, in press) and are
Handcleaner A 3.65 g
B
recogLljsed as an important contaminant of the sea-
0.19 g
C 6.91 g surface microlayer along with petrolenm products (e.g.
Facialscrub A =I3 tarhalls)andotherankopogeksnbatanccs(Hardy,
B 3.04 g
1982, PSI). Metals, in&ding those listed in Table 2,
C 1.62g
am known to coIIect at this microIayer_ Fine plastic
deMns(microMter)willbe6ikulydispers#lacross
the ocean smface but it is unlikely to have been
blasting with a plastic bead media in lieu of sand is a
co~orrecognkdinthesta&ardmeshsixes
further potential source for similar sixed material
used for most neuston and pleuston surveys. Ecosys-
(Fig. lg and h). Nelson (1990) has noted that this
tems of the sea-surf&e microlayer, whether in open
material can be recycled up to 10 times before it loses its
oceanic, coastal or estuarine waters are complex and
cutting power and has to be discarded. With recycling
sensitive to pollution (e.g. Hardy, 1987). This micro-
there is progressive decrease in grain size (Fig. lg and
layer is an important nursery for the juveniles and
h). Plastic media used in cleaning aircraft and machine
pelagic larvae of numerous species, many of which are
parts may be si~tly contaminated by heavy
commercially important, and its productivity must be
metals. These may be at levels considered environmen-
under potential and continual threat from anthropo-
taUy under&able or even hazardous (Table 2). Without
genie emichment (see Hardy, 1982; Cross et al., 1987),
isolation and protection at industrial application sites,
to which plastic microlitter is but a recently identified
and careful management of landfiB disposal, heavy
and additional factor. Plastic microlitter could be a
metal contaminated plastic media beads and powder
vector by which heavy metal and other contaminants,
could enter and pass through reticulated storm-water
including organochlorines, are transferred to filter
and sewage drainage systems or natural water courses
feeding as well as other kinds of invertebrate and
to ultimately reach tbe sea or otherwise be widely
ultimately reach higher trophic levels. For instance,
dispersed via aerosols and as wind-blown dust.
Ryan et al. (1988) have shown that ingested plastic
could account for variance in the PCB levels of Great
Di!XISdOll Shearwaters. Meiofaunal studies (see review by Coull &
Chandler, 1992) and other approaches to establishing
Following use, and a thorough washing, these
the impact of heavy metal pollution may need to take
shredded polyethylene particles and similar material
these possibilities into consideration. Wetlands and
from other sourcea, e.g. degradation flakes (Fig. li and
intertidal mud- and sandflats adjacent to large urban
j) and contact lens cleaner (Fig. lk and 1) will be
and industrial centres could be particularly at risk. On
transported through foul water and reticulated sanitary
the other hand, to express grave concern about the
systems. Some may be trapped in sewage sludge at
downstream affects of plastic microlitter in such
treatment plants or in oxidation ponds, but it is
environments may be a little premature, even though
probable a sign&ant proportion will be discharged
estuaries are known pollution traps. For example, the
into marine waters, where, because they float, dispersal
Manukau Harbour is a large (> 300 km2) estuary on the
by surface currents will be rapid. An appropriate
west coast of the North Island, New Zealand and the
comparison is with talc, which Ruth et al. (1989) have
country’s most polluted (Williamson et al., 1992). A
recognised as a most important constituent of sus-
sewage treatment plant which discharges ca 250000 m3
pended particulate matter in N-E Atlantic Ocean
of treated effluent per day (Williamson et al., 1992) lies
marine environments, and one which reflects anthro-
on its southern shores and services a population ca 1
pogenic activity. There are other reports of anthropic
million. There is no evidence that heavy metal
particles suspended in deep ocean waters together with
(Williamson et al., 1992) or organochlorine (Hume et
natural ones (e.g. Jedwab, 1980). The slightly more
al., 1989) levels in intertidal surface sediments in the
dense polystyrene particles illustrated by Zitko &
plant’s vicinity are signi&antly different from those
Hanlon (1991) will also float in seawater if experience
elsewhere around the harbour.
elsewhere is any measure (e.g. Colton et al., 1974).
There is, however, one major and topical oceanic
experiment where further speculations may be war-
TABLE 2
ranted. The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGGFS)
Heavy metal contamination of wastes from plastic airblasting media,
has arisen out of concerns widely expressed over global
Auckland, New Zealand (from Nelson, 1990; Fig. 4). warming, and is a long duration international colla-
borative programme focused at seIected ocean areas and
Metal mg kg-’ designed to increase understanding of the oceanic
Cadmium 3-9 carbon cycle (SCOR, 1990, Morales et al., 1991;
chrOIIliUm 60-100 Williamson & Gribben, 1991). Estimates of vertical
Lead 1lo-190 organic and inorganic particulate sinking fluxes
Mercury o-O.2
obtained from suspended strings of sediment traps

(e.g. Altabet, 1990; Micheals et al., 1990), and
automated chemical identifications or assays dependent
upon size-sorting and facilitated by laser-based flow
cytometry (e.g. Yentsch et al., 1983; Shapiro, 1988;
Cunningham, 1990), together with determination of the
elemental composition of individual particles by SAX
(Lavoie, 1992) as well as other studies of the trace metal
composition of suspended particles in the water column
(e.g. Sherrell BEBoyle, 1992), may be compromised by
plastic microlitter settling as either aggregates or single
particles. Furthermore, attention can be drawn to the
assertion of Sherrell & Boyle (1992) (pp. 171 and 172)
‘ plastics may be globally insignificant at less than a
. . . that half or more of the total deep flux of Al, Fe,
Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb is derived from the upper water
column (< 500 m)‘. It has previously been noted that
through careless handling, plastic microlitter contami-
nated by Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg could reach marine waters.
Similarly, it must be acknowledged that trace amounts
of many metallic elements, and other compounds some
of which are toxic, are not uncommon in a number of
plastic formulations. There are anecdotal suggestions of
very tine grained plastic detritus turning up in deep-
moored sediment traps but no cont?rrned reports of this
exist. It is perhaps worthy to note that station ‘S’, near
Bermuda, which looms large in JGGFS, lies in the
Sargasso Sea which is known to be carrying a heavy
‘plastic’ loading (Wilber, 1987). Degrading virgin plastic
granules are also common on the shores of Bermuda
(Gregory, 1983) as are flakes from the disintegration of
larger fabricated items (unpub. data; Fig. li and j).
Similarly, weather station ‘Papa’ in the Alaskan Gyre of
the North Pacific, another identified JGOFS site, is in a
region of moderately chronic plastic contamination (e.g.
Day et al., 1990a,b; Mio et al., 1990). The probability of
significant chemical artifacts are lessened in the South-
em Ocean, because here the plastics loading of surface
waters is very low although debris of all kinds will tend
to accumulate along the Polar Front (Gregory, 1990) a
region which has also been targeted by JGGFS, as it will
at other oceanic boundaries and fronts (e.g. the
Kuroshio Current and Gulf Stream).
Conclusion8
Plastic microlitter, no matter what its origin, may
possibly impact the biota of marine environments as
varied as the sea-surface microlayer of the open ocean
and intertidal sediments of protected estuaries, but any
effects have yet to be demonstrated. This writer cannot
help but further speculate that fine particles of plastic
dispersed through the oceanic water column, and
perhaps bound into faecal aggregations or with other
adherent compounds, may interfere with, if not
prejudice the results of some ambitious particulate
carbon IIux experiments. Similarly, there is an implied
need for some hesitancy in uncritically accepting the
results of on-line and other sophisticated techniques for
determining elemental and mineralogic composition of
suspended inorganic and organic particles.
The global quantities of pelagic plastic microlitter will
not be established until the population dynamics of all
seabome plastics is established (see Gerrodette, 1985).
870
Marine Pollution Bulletin
The material is too fine to be retained in most neuston
net surveys (see Gregory, 1990) and has not been
recognized in a repeat survey of virgin plastic granule
quantities on New Zealand shores that has recently been
completed (Gregory & Ryan, in prep.).
Zitko & Hanlon (1991) (p. 42) concluded with the
observation that ‘Given their persistence in the
environment, accumulation could occur should these
plastic scrubber-containing cleaners become more
widely used in the marketplace’. With this, one can
only concur. New Zealand’s contribution through this
unusual material to the overall oceanic loading of
guesstimated 0.2 t yr-‘. However, it is an unnecessary
addition to the plastic microlitter whose impact on
marine ecosystems and larger oceanic processes, and
our understanding of them, can not be accurately
evaluated.
Funding support has come through the Research Agenda of the
Ministry for the Environment, and also facilities provided by
University Grants Committee and University of Auckland Research
Committee. I thank !I. Courtney, K. Johnston, B. O’Connor, J.
Seakins and J. Wihnshurst for technical assistance. R. Bunker typed
the manuscript. Some of the ideas expressed here, were developed
during the tenure of a Starr Fellowship at the Bermuda Biological
Station for Research. Drs F. Dromgole, S. de Mora, K. Rodgers and
P. Ryan are thanked for their comments and criticisms but the author
alone is responsible for the i&as expressed here. Bermuda Biological
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Addendum
Further comment is perhaps warranted. It is
interesting to note that the advertising blurbs, labelling
and promotional information accompanying most
cosmetic scrubs and exfoliants generally place particular
emphasis on ‘smooth spherules’, ‘polybeads’, and
‘spherical polishing beads’. It is claimed these ‘massage’
away surface (skin) debris. In reality the ‘beads’
typically have an irregular shredded character and are
anything but smooth and spherical.
871