Business Insider reports that the US government recently approved a bill that bans the use of microbreads. But what are microbeads exactly, and why was there a need for a law to prohibit them?

Microbeads are often found in personal care items like facial cleansers and body washes that help exfoliate your skin—yes, in everyday products. These microbeads fall into the drain, absorb chemicals, and are soon loaded with toxins. Fish ingest this, which then end up on our plate, and eventually, inside our stomach—we eat our own waste, basically. Cringe.

The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 imposes that by 2017, the use of microbeads should be eradicated. It's great to know that we are slowly taking steps to restore the environment. Want to do your part for Mother Nature? Choose products that are made with natural scrubs like strawberry seeds and oatmeal granules.

PHOTO: Pinterest.com/Tom Newton