Microbeads are solid primary microplastics < 5 mm in diameter that are added to cosmetic products for cleansing and/or exfoliation of the skin. After use, they are discharged into the drain and end up in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), from which they can escape into waters. Once disposed, there is no efficient method of recovery and the environmental conditions do not allow full biodegradation. Focusing mainly on the possible effect of microbeads on the environment and the human health, and taking into account that there have always been alternatives with similar cost, scientists suggested banning microbeads from cosmetic products. Despite the increasing knowledge on the microplastics' effects, the pressure from non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and the increasing public concern, few European and other countries worldwide have taken legislative steps against microbeads, and even fewer against other microplastics used in cosmetic products, mainly because it is a common belief that cosmetic industries responded massively to the call for a phase-out. Although EU acted soon after scientists focused on microbeads' effects by restricting cosmetics with microbeads to bare the EU Ecolabel in 2014, there is still no European-wide ban, which will probably take place as of 2022. Present study offers a thorough literature review on the presence of microbeads in cosmetics up to date, focusing primarily on the actions against their use, and questioning whether future pollution from microbeads or/and microplastics in cosmetics has been successfully handled.

微珠是直径<5 mm的固体初级微塑料，被添加到化妆品中以清洁和/或剥落皮肤。使用后，它们会排入下水道，然后进入废水处理厂（WWTP），然后从废水处理厂逸入水中。一旦处置，就没有有效的回收方法，并且环境条件不允许完全生物降解。科学家们主要关注微珠对环境和人类健康的可能影响，并考虑到一直存在成本相似的替代品，科学家建议禁止化妆品中使用微珠。尽管人们越来越了解微塑料的作用，非政府组织的压力以及公众日益关注的问题，全世界很少有欧洲和其他国家/地区对微珠采取立法措施，而对化妆品中使用的其他微塑料采取立法措施则更少，这主要是因为人们普遍认为，化妆品行业对淘汰的要求做出了巨大反应。尽管在科学家关注微珠的影响后不久欧盟采取行动，于2014年将含微珠的化妆品裸露在欧盟生态标签上，但仍然没有欧洲范围的禁令，该禁令可能会在2022年之前实施。化妆品中微珠的存在是最新的，主要集中在针对其使用的作用上，并质疑化妆品中微珠或/和微塑料的未来污染是否已得到成功处理。与化妆品中使用的其他微塑料相比，甚至更少。这主要是因为人们普遍认为，化妆品行业对淘汰的呼声很高。尽管在科学家关注微珠的影响后不久欧盟采取行动，于2014年将含微珠的化妆品裸露在欧盟生态标签上，但仍然没有欧洲范围的禁令，该禁令可能会在2022年之前实施。化妆品中微珠的存在是最新的，主要集中在针对其使用的作用上，并质疑化妆品中微珠或/和微塑料的未来污染是否已得到成功处理。甚至与化妆品中使用的其他微塑料相比更少，主要是因为人们普遍认为，化妆品行业对淘汰的呼声很高。尽管在科学家关注微珠的影响后不久欧盟采取行动，于2014年将含微珠的化妆品裸露在欧盟生态标签上，但仍然没有欧洲范围的禁令，该禁令可能会在2022年之前实施。化妆品中微珠的存在是最新的，主要集中在针对其使用的作用上，并质疑化妆品中微珠或/和微塑料的未来污染是否已得到成功处理。