From Buttock to Gulf: A New Orleans Glitter Journey

By Nora Seilheimer


“The thing about glitter is if you get it on you be prepared to have it on you forever because glitter doesn’t go away,” says American comedian Demetri Martin.

 “Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies.”

You might laugh now, but according to environmental anthropologist Dr. Trisha Farrelly, a dark truth lingers beneath such sparkling humor.

“All glitter should be banned because it’s microplastic and all microplastics leak into the environment.” Farrelly told National Geographic’s Laura Parker last fall.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that measure 5 or less millimeters long. By way of cosmetics, DIY projects like Mardi Gras costumes and other crafts, these indestructible chips find their way into major bodies of water. Independent writer, Josh Gabbatiss, says some studies show there are roughly 51 trillion tons of microplastics in the oceans across the globe.

When you picture the size of fish food flakes, it’s easy to understand why marine life might mistake these bits for sustenance. A sparkly stomach lining might sound fun and festive, but microplastics, like glitter, are coated in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When PET breaks down it releases harsh chemicals into its surroundings, like an oblivious bird’s throat or an unknowing otter’s small intestine. Dr. Farrelly studies how these chemicals—that have been linked to neurological diseases and various forms of cancer—negatively impact hormones in animals and humans.

What’s that? You don’t chug glitter? You don’t munch on microplastics between meals? According to a study led by Professor Richard Thompson, one third of the fish caught in the UK carry microplastics in their bellies. If you like seafood (crawfish boil, anyone?), these chemicals can still find you.

While scientists are still uncovering glitter’s trail into our oceans, it only takes one Mardi Gras parade memory to conceive how glitter might fly off a Krewe member’s face (or buttock), land in a curbside stream, slide into our sewers and be spit back out into the Gulf.

It is here that glitter’s magic transforms into a curse—a curse not unlike ubiquitous herpes.

If you’re already looking ahead to Mardi Gras 2019 but don’t want your costume’s sparkle to end up in the Gulf, here are some biodegradable glitter manufacturers: 

https://ecostardust.com 

https://glitterevolution.com

https://www.ecoglitterfun.com 




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Articles consulted or cited: 

Gabbatiss, Josh. “Glitter Should Be Banned Over Environmental Impact, Scientists Warn.” Independent, 16 Nov. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/environment/glitter-ban-environment-microbead-impact-microplastics-scientists-warning-deep-ocean-a8056196.html.

Parker, Laura. “To Save the Oceans, Should You Give Up Glitter?” National Geographic, 30 Nov. 2017, news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/11/glitter-plastics-ocean-pollution-environment-spd/.

Sheridan, Kate. “Glitter Is an Environmental Scourge .” Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2017, www.newsweek.com/glitter-environmental-scourge-wrecking-oceans-should-it-be-banned-725826.