High Court orders probe into microplastics in toothpastes
The order follows a recent study that found that nearly three out of every four toothpaste products tested in Bangladesh contain microplastics.
The High Court has ordered the formation of a three-member expert committee to investigate whether 26 toothpaste products sold in the country's market contain harmful microplastics, following findings published in a recent study.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Md Ziaul Haque passed the order today (28 July), directing the committee to submit its investigation report to the court within 15 days.
The court directed the health secretary and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) to form the committee with one expert each from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's Science Laboratory, and BSTI.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the court within 15 days.
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The court also issued a rule asking why effective measures should not be taken to prevent the presence of harmful microplastics in toothpaste.
It directed the health secretary, environment secretary, commerce secretary, BSTI and other respondents to explain within four weeks.
The order follows a study published by the Environment and Social Development Organization on Sunday (26 July), which found that nearly three out of every four toothpaste products tested in Bangladesh contain microplastics.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than five millimetres that originate from broken-down plastic waste, synthetic clothing and manufactured plastic beads. They contaminate air, water and soil and can enter the bodies of animals and humans.
The year-long study detected microplastic particles in 26 of 34 toothpaste samples, or 76.5%, collected from 19 local and imported brands available in the country.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Abdullah Al Mamun argued the case in support of the writ petition.
Yesterday (27 July), he filed the writ seeking an independent investigation into the detection of harmful microplastics in 26 of the 34 toothpaste products tested.
