The government says it will act in the public interest over the presence of microplastics in most toothpaste products used in the country. Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman made the statement on Tuesday at the government’s regular press conference in the Information Department conference room at the Secretariat, responding to a question about whether authorities would take action.

Rahman said the government considers public safety a serious matter, but described microplastics as a wider problem that extends beyond toothpaste. He said particles are being generated from different sources and spreading into food and water. He said a coordinated response is needed, arguing that action focused only on toothpaste or another single area would not be sufficient.

The adviser said relevant government agencies would take steps because microplastics had been found in such quantities. He also said public health awareness is increasing and the issue is being widely discussed on social media. Environmental and Social Development Organization, or ESDO, tested 34 toothpaste samples from 19 brands and found microplastics in 26 samples, or about 76.5 percent. Some toothpaste products marketed for children also contained the small plastic particles.