A proposal could lead to future limits as ARPA-H launches a research program on microplastic exposure.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added microplastics and certain pharmaceuticals to its Sixth Contaminant Candidate List, a step that could lead to future drinking water regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced the proposal alongside Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with the list also including categories of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
“By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,” Administrator Zeldin stated.
Placement on the list initiates study and evaluation but does not impose immediate limits. The EPA also released nonbinding human health benchmarks for hundreds of pharmaceuticals to assist states and water systems. Officials said research has linked microplastics and some pharmaceutical residues to potential health risks, though assessments are ongoing.
Separately, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) within the federal health department announced a $144 million program called STOMP (Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics) to study microplastics in the human body and develop methods to measure and remove them. The initiative will focus first on the detection and mapping of microplastic exposure, followed by the development of potential removal approaches.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For EPA Administrator Zeldin as he oversees the evaluation of potential drinking water contaminants and research priorities.
- For officials in the EPA, HHS, and other departments as they conduct studies and assess regulatory options.
- For federal workers as they facilitate reviews and studies of local and municipal water processing.
Sources: The Hill, Department of Health and Human Services, MSN, Morning Overview
