Our lakes and waterways are a critical foundation of our environment and economy in Chautauqua County and Western New York. Especially Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake. They provide us with drinking water, water for use in the agricultural and manufacturing industries, the fish that are sold in restaurants and consumed in our homes and, of course, the many businesses that are based on the tourism associated with our lakes.

That is why I am very concerned about the impact of plastic microbead pollution in our lakes and waterways. Plastic microbeads are used in a variety of personal care products from toothpaste to cosmetics. They are marketed as scrubbing or exfoliating agents in these products. However, these plastic microbeads act like a sponge for toxins known to be dangerous to humans and animals. What’s worse is that they cannot be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants. So they run down the drains from our houses, pass through sewer systems and treatment plants and end up flowing into our lakes.

Once these microbeads are in the open water, they leach toxic chemicals and also absorb others. Microbeads are very small and, as a result, they are entering the food chain because they are being eaten by fish and other wildlife.

Much of what we know about these plastic microbeads comes from the extensive, ground-breaking research that has been done by Dr. Sherri Mason of SUNY Fredonia. She is considered the leading expert on microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes. In August, I invited Dr. Mason to give a presentation to the county legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, which I chair. I invited all legislators, and others, to attend and hear her presentation. We also heard from representatives from the Personal Care Products Council, based in Washington DC, a lobbying group for the industry.

Over the course of four years, Dr. Mason has collected samples and studied wildlife in all of the Great Lakes. She found large amounts of these plastic microbeads in the water and inside the intestines of every single species of fish in the Great Lakes.

After hearing from both sides of this issue, I came to the conclusion that we need to take action here in Chautauqua County. Following suit with the ban recently passed in Erie County, I will be introducing legislation this month to pass a similar ban on the sale of products containing plastic microbeads in our county. I am also calling on other counties to pursue similar laws to help protect the health of our most vital natural resource.

One of the things that struck me the most, from Dr. Mason’s presentation, is that the greatest microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes is in Lake Erie. What’s worse is that “Ground Zero” for the highest concentration of contamination is right off our shores here in Western New York.

Dr. Mason’s research, so far, has not included Chautauqua Lake. However, with several sewer plants around the lake, it’s highly likely that similar contamination exists there as well.

As awareness of this issue grows, it will impact the public’s perception of the safety and quality of the water and the fish that come from our lakes. So, besides the potential health hazard of this pollution, this issue is also a direct threat to the economic engine that our lakes provide and the businesses that rely on the water and the fish being safe.

Some critics of these bans have said that this will have a negative impact on the businesses that manufacture these products. The personal care products industry recognizes the need to eliminate plastic microbeads and has pledged to do so. However, despite having known of the dangers since as far back as 2011, they have yet to set a reasonable timeline to remove them from their products.

As an elected official who represents the Lake Erie region, my primary economic concern is for the businesses that rely on the perception that the fish coming out of our lakes are safe. Those are the businesses that need our support and protection the most.

While I feel these bans on the sale of products containing plastic microbeads will help to reduce contamination, the primary purpose of a ban, in my opinion, is to raise awareness of the issue and to send a message. The message to our leaders in Albany is that they must make a better effort to resolve the differences that have stalled legislation to enact a statewide ban. The message is also to the personal care products industry, which needs to move more quickly to reformulate its products with the safe, natural alternatives that are already in use and readily available to them.

This is an issue that transcends partisan politics and special interests. It is matter of public safety and economic impact. I urge my fellow legislators to support this ban and I would ask the concerned citizens of our area to be conscious of the threat these plastic microbeads pose and make every effort to eliminate them from your homes. It’s a very small sacrifice that could have a very big positive impact.

Chautauqua County legislator George Borrello, R-Silver Creek, is also chairman of the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee and chairman of the Lake Erie Management Commission.