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The High Court on Tuesday ordered the formation of a three-member expert committee to investigate the presence of harmful microplastics in toothpaste sold in Bangladesh after a recent study found the contaminants in 26 of 34 samples tested.
The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why they should not be directed to take effective measures to prevent the use or presence of microplastics in toothpaste.
The order was passed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Md. Ziaul Haque.
Under the court’s directive, the committee will include one expert each from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the Bangladesh Science Laboratory, and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
The Health Secretary and BSTI have been instructed to constitute the committee and submit its investigation report to the court within 15 days.
The writ petition was argued by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md. Abdullah Al Mamun.
The petition was filed on Monday seeking a judicial inquiry into the presence of harmful microplastics in toothpaste marketed in the country. Respondents include the Health Secretary, Environment Secretary, Commerce Secretary, BSTI and other relevant authorities.
The petition followed the publication of a study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) titled “Microplastics in Toothpaste: Scientific Evidence for Policy and Regulatory Action in Bangladesh,” released on July 26.
The study examined 34 toothpaste products from 19 brands manufactured in Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Vietnam between July 2025 and June 2026.
According to the findings, 76.5 percent of the tested samples contained microplastics, with 20 to 320 microplastic particles per 100 grams of toothpaste. Four of the six toothpaste products designed for children also tested positive for the particles.
Among the 25 locally manufactured samples, 22 contained microplastics. The study also detected microplastics in one of five Indian products, one of two Thai products, and both Vietnamese products tested.
ESDO researchers said toothpaste should contain no microplastics, warning that the tiny plastic particles pose potential risks to both human health and the environment. They urged the government to introduce immediate regulatory and policy measures to address the issue.
The study found the highest concentration of microplastics in Mediplus Fluoride Gel, where 320 particles per 100 grams were detected. Eight of the toothpaste samples tested showed no detectable levels of microplastics.