Those microbeads that you see suspended in cleansing solutions produced by megacompanies like Johnson & Johson and Procter & Gamble brag of exfoliating power, but those beads are wreaking havoc on pipes and drains — and California is doing something about it.

The California State Assembly passed a ban on the use of plastic microbeads over environmental concerns, as water treatment plants are being forced to process tons and tons of microbeads each year, according to a New York Times report.

Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, and Maine have already enacted legislation to restrict microbead use, and bills are pending in Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, and Washington. California would be the first to ban both synthetic and biodegradable microbeads that companies have been trying to push as a compromise on the issue.

The problem with the biodegradable microbeads, critics argue, is that they aren’t sufficiently tested and therefore there is no evidence that these microbeads will dissolve in a natural environment.

Polylactic acid degrades faster than plastics, for example, but only with an extreme amount of heat not typical in a marine environment. After all, everything is biodegradable on a large enough timescale.

Microbeads are widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. They are advertised as exfoliating agents, creating a sort of “ball-bearing effect” in lotions resulting in a smooth and silky texture. They also add visual appeal to the product.

When microbeads are washed into bodies of water, they can create something called “plastic soup,” which is when a gyre of marine debris circulates in the ocean due to currents to create a garbage zone filled with chemical sludge and debris.