LONDON — British MPs have issued a report detailing the damage to the environment wreaked by microbeads used in cosmetic products.

The report from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee called on the the government to introduce a legislative ban on microbeads in cosmetics and toiletries.

According to environmental advocacy group Greenpeace, microplastics are "tiny pieces of plastic that are added to everyday cosmetic products [like] face wash, toothpaste, abrasive cleaners and lots more."

Because of their size — typically 0.1 to 0.5 millimetres in length — microbeads can easily go down plug holes and pass through water filtration systems.

Microbeads — often labelled as polyethylene — settle into ocean sediment and can be ingested by marine life, resulting in severe health impacts.

The report states that a "single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles being flushed into the sewage system."

Indeed, James Clark — a research scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory — told Mashable that 25ml of shower gel can contain up to 40,000 plastic particles.

"If one were to use 50ml while showering, that would equate to 80,000 particles. This is consistent with the number quoted from the report," Clark told Mashable.