Microplastics in 26 toothpastes: Writ petition in High Court demanding investigation

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court demanding an investigation into the discovery of ‘harmful’ microplastics in 26 out of 34 toothpastes sold in the country’s market. Supreme Court lawyer Md. Abdullah Al Mamun filed the writ today (July 27).
The writ has made the Health Secretary, Environment Secretary, Commerce Secretary, BSTI and the Consumer Rights Protection Council respondents. According to a newspaper report, microplastics were found in 26 out of 34 toothpastes tested in Bangladesh. The number of these tiny plastic particles in every 100 grams of toothpaste was 20 to 320. Microplastics were also detected in four out of six toothpastes made for children.
This information has emerged in a new study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO). Researchers say the presence of microplastics in toothpaste is raising serious concerns about potential risks to human health and the environment. The researchers say that toothpaste cannot contain microplastics in any way.
The study titled ‘Microplastics in Toothpaste: Scientific Evidence for Policy and Regulatory Action in Bangladesh’ was released at the ESDO office in Lalmatia in the capital on Sunday (July 26). The study, conducted from July 2025 to June 2026, tested 34 toothpaste samples from 19 major brands. These were manufactured in Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
Microplastics were found in 22 out of 25 samples made in the country. In addition, microplastics were detected in one out of five samples from India, one out of two samples from Thailand and both out of two samples made in Vietnam. Six out of the 34 samples included in the study were children’s toothpastes. Four of them contained 20 to 140 microplastic particles per 100 grams.
Presenting the results of the survey, ESDO Research and Policy Associate Dr. Faizun Nahar said that the samples were collected from retail stores, supermarkets and wholesale markets. They were tested at the Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology Laboratory of Jahangirnagar University. He said that 76.5 percent of the toothpastes tested contained microplastics. Eight samples did not contain detectable levels of microplastics.
How much microplastic was found in which toothpaste?
The highest microplastics were found in the study in ‘Mediplus Fluoride Gel’, with 320 particles per 100 grams. 35.6 percent of the people who participated in the survey said that they use this toothpaste, which is the most used brand in the survey.
Other toothpastes that were found to contain microplastics included ‘Close Up Red Hot’ and ‘Close Up Menthol Fresh’, which had 160 particles per 100 grams. ‘Kodomo Ultra Shield Formula’ (Strawberry) had 140 particles, ‘Signal Green Tea’ had 120 particles, and ‘Pepsodent Advanced Salt’ and ‘Himalaya Complete Care’ had 100 particles each.
‘Sensodyne Fresh Mint’ had 80 particles. ‘Pepsodent Sensitive Expert’, ‘White Plus Red’, ‘White Plus Pro Sensitive Gel’, ‘Signal Whitening’, ‘Meryl Baby’ (Strawberry) and ‘Medplus TGP Formula’ had 60 particles each.
‘A.M.P.M. Herbal, Mediplus DS, Pepsodent Germicheck, Meryl Baby (Orange), Magic Herbal, Meswak and Closeup Menthol Fresh Sachet were each found to contain 40 microplastic particles.
Dentin Gel, Pepsodent Kids (Orange), Closeup Lemon Sea Salt, Brush Up Whitening Gel and White Plus Pro Sensitive were each found to contain 20 microplastic particles per 100 grams. The products in which microplastics were found included Kodomo Ultra Shield Formula (Strawberry), Meryl Baby (Strawberry), Meryl Baby (Orange) and Pepsodent Kids Orange for children.
No microplastics were found in eight samples
The study found no detectable microplastics in eight samples. These are – ‘Parodontax Expert Gum Care’, ‘Zenfresh’, ‘Parachute Just for Baby’ (Mango), ‘Sensodyne Fresh Gel’, ‘Colgate Maxfresh’, ‘Closeup Red Hot Zinc Fresh Technology’, ‘Kodomo (Orange)’ and ‘Colgate Active Salt’. Among these, ‘Kodomo Orange’ and ‘Parachute Just for Baby’ (Mango) are children’s toothpastes.