I found out about this a year or so ago, and would like to share in case anyone doesn't know about it. It's a type of plastic that can be found in toothpaste, body wash and other items, and replaces any natural items used to scrub skin/gums. It is bad for both the environment and the body, because the particles are so small.
Discussion
Clothing can a lot of times have that too but it's microfibers rather than beads. I found it surprising that even deodorant has a lot of microbeads. Too many microbeads in the water can transport alien/invasive species of microbes to different regions and disrupt ecosystems
Best is to opt for natural organic or low chemical products as much as possible.
Wow, I had no idea it was in clothing, too. Thanks for sharing!