QUANTIFICATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS USING NILE RED STAINING METHOD AND CONSUMER SURVEY OF UNDERSTANDING MICROPLASTIC EXISTENCE IN THESE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Microplastics found in personal care products and cosmetics have been assessed as one of the sources of plastic pollution in marine environments. However, microplastic research is quite limited in Vietnam. This study developed a Nile Red staining method to determine the microplastic presence in personal care products with domestic and foreign origin. Using fluorescence microscopy shows the presence of microplastic particles in toothpaste and exfoliating cosmetic samples. Both of exfoliating products were determined the microplastic existence with a size less than 5mm. The C1 sample has the highest density of 2677 particles/ 1g of the product. 15 of 24 toothpaste samples exist microplastic with a size less than 1mm. In there, the highest density is the R1 sample with 17.582 particles/ 1g product. The study also conducted a survey of more than 100 people that showed the surveyed people’s comprehension about the MPs presence in personal care products was very low, only 28.5% of the surveyed people know and care to the problem. However, up to 84% of people surveyed decided to stop using and are willing to recommend to relatives and friends for products containing MPs.