Pretty, sparkly, and really hard to get rid of. Forms of glitter have been used for decoration since at least Aztec times and can be found on ornaments, clothes, greeting cards and cosmetics. However, today's glitter is often made of plastic, and this makes it more dangerous than it appears.漂亮，闪闪发光，真的很难摆脱。 从至少AZTEC时代开始，闪光的形式已被用于装饰，可以在装饰品，衣服，贺卡和化妆品上找到。 但是，今天的闪光通常是由塑料制成的，这使其比看起来更危险。

Pieces of glitter are often washed into the water system, and from there into seas and rivers. Here, they become microplastic pollution. Fish often mistake small plastic particles for food and eat them. When something low in the food chain is eaten by predators, they also consume the microplastics left in their prey. If we eat seafood, that includes us. While there are still questions about the impact of this, microplastics have been linked with issues including DNA damage, organ dysfunction and cardiovascular problems. It's been estimated that humans may ingest between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles each year.经常将片闪光从水系统冲入水系统，然后从那里进入海洋和河流。 在这里，它们成为微塑料污染。 鱼经常将小塑料颗粒误认为食物并食用。 当食物链中的食物链中的某些东西被掠食者食用时，他们还消耗了猎物中留下的微塑料。 如果我们吃海鲜，那包括我们。 尽管仍然存在有关此影响的问题，但微塑料与包括DNA损伤，器官功能障碍和心血管问题在内的问题有关。 据估计，人类每年可能摄入74,000至121,000个微塑料颗粒。

Glitter only makes up a tiny part of the microplastics found in the ocean, but it can be particularly harmful. Firstly, while most microplastics in marine environments are formed by large pieces of plastic breaking down, glitter is manufactured as a microplastic. It is also made up of several different compounds which can leach toxins into the surrounding environment.闪光只构成了海洋中发现的微塑料的很小一部分，但它可能特别有害。 首先，尽管海洋环境中的大多数微型塑料都是由大量塑料分解而成的，但闪光是作为微型塑料制造的。 它也由几种不同的化合物组成，可以将毒素浸入周围环境中。

Additionally, a recent study has suggested that glitter particles can encourage the formation of certain mineral crystals, changing the chemistry of the environment around them. Not only could this affect how sea life produces shells and skeletons, but the crystals can break up the particles further, forming nanoplastics. These are even more likely to be absorbed by marine organisms.此外，最近的一项研究表明，闪光颗粒可以鼓励形成某些矿物晶体，改变周围环境的化学性质。 这不仅会影响海洋生物产生壳和骨骼的方式，而且晶体可以进一步分解颗粒，形成纳米塑料。 这些甚至更有可能被海洋生物吸收。

Biodegradable alternatives have been developed, although some studies suggest that these could be just as harmful. Maybe we should just find a different way to make decorations.已经开发了可生物降解的替代方法，尽管一些研究表明这些替代方法可能同样有害。 也许我们应该找到一种制作装饰的不同方法。