Safer Toothpastes Need Stronger Quality Control

Toothpaste is among the most ordinary products in our daily lives, used by people of all ages, including children. It is highly disturbing that some 3 out of 4 toothpastes sold in our markets were found to contain micro-plastics. A year-long study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) detected these tiny plastic particles in 26 of 34 toothpaste samples from 19 brands, raising questions about product safety, regulatory oversight and consumers’ right to know what they are putting in their mouths every day.

However, micro-plastics are generally no larger than 5 millimetres, and they may be deliberately produced when larger plastic materials break down. Now widespread in the environment, they can enter the human body through food, drinking water and air. While their health consequences are still being investigated, their presence in a product used directly in the mouth warrants grave attention.

The ESDO study found between 20 and 320 micro-plastic particles per 100 grams of toothpaste. Even more alarming is that, 4 out of the 6 toothpaste products marketed for children contained micro-plastics. This is particularly troubling for parents, given that children may use such products regularly.

Researchers have also raised concerns about possible links between micro-plastic exposure and inflammation, oxidative stress, and effects on the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. However, there is not yet sufficient evidence to establish that micro-plastics directly cause particular diseases. Such uncertainty calls for caution and further scientific investigation.

Our experience with arsenic-contaminated groundwater offers a sobering lesson. A hazard that was initially poorly understood eventually became a major public health concern, with long-term arsenic exposure associated with skin lesions, cardiovascular disease and several cancers. Similarly, lead exposure can affect children’s brain development and learning, with its effects sometimes remaining subtle for years. These experiences show why emerging health threats should be addressed before their consequences become widespread.

The regulatory gap surrounding toothpastes is particularly troubling. According to ESDO, Bangladesh currently has no specific national standards, permissible limits, testing protocols or mandatory labelling requirements for micro-plastics in toothpaste. Consumers are consequently denied information necessary to make informed choices.

Against this backdrop, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution must take immediate steps to close this gap by establishing clear safety standards, reliable testing procedures and appropriate labelling requirements. Regular market surveillance is equally important, while manufacturers must be held accountable for ensuring that their products meet safety requirements.

Concurrently, further research should also assess the extent of exposure and its possible long-term health implications. The government must treat the ESDO findings as an early warning and strengthen oversight, testing and transparency before an emerging concern becomes a larger problem.

To finish with, there is neither need to single out brands or create panic, nor should scientific uncertainty become an excuse for regulatory inaction.