Rolf Halden

Microbeads, tiny pieces of plastic commonly used in personal care products, are showing up in waterways across the nation. These tiny particles are considered potentially dangerous to the environment because of their tendency to absorb toxins in the water and then get consumed by fish and other organisms. Rolf Halden, Director of the Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University, and Sherri Mason, Associate Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Fredonia, explain the hazards of these particles in our water.

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would require manufactures of antibacterial soaps to demonstrate that their products are safe. Studies in animals have found that exposure to high doses of certain chemicals found in these products can cause hormonal and metabolic disruptions. Rolf Halden,director of the Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University, talks about the chemicals and the questions about their safety.