Lawmakers in the UK are seeing a crisis unfolding in waters around the world - but the evidence is barely visible, unless you have a microscope.  They're calling for a worldwide ban on plastic microbeads used in shampoos, soaps, amd cosmetics.

"Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain," said Labour's Mary Creagh, the opposition lawmaker who chairs the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.  "A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean," she added.

The committee's report says the industry's voluntary commitments to phase out microbeads by 2020 do not go far enough.  Instead, Britain should follow the example of US PResident Barack Obama who signed off on a total ban on microbeads by the end of 2017:

"We need a full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does not respect borders," said Ms. Creagh, "If this isn't possible after our vote to leave the EU, then the government should introduce a national ban.  The best way to reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea in the first place."

The report cited research showing as many as 51 trillion microplastic particles have accumulated in the oceans, and it's already in the foodchain.  YOUR foodchain.

"We find pieces of plastic in every sample of seawater we study from round the world.  Many marine animals ingest microbeads, mistaking them for food," said Professor Tamara Galloway from Exeter University. 

"An average plate of oysters could contain up to 50 plastic particles," added Professor Galloway, who noted that "most people would probably prefer not to be eating microbeads with their food".