health
Millions of Americans Drink Water Contaminated With Microplastics, Drugs
The EPA said it is considering adding microplastics, pharmaceuticals and PFAS to its latest list of drinking water contaminants, opening the door to new research and potential regulation. The move comes alongside a $144 million federal initiative aimed at understanding and reducing microplastics in the human body, as officials warn of growing — but still poorly understood — health risks.
TL;DR
- The EPA is considering adding microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS to its list of drinking water contaminants.
- A new $144 million federal initiative, STOMP, led by ARPA-H, aims to understand and reduce microplastics in the human body.
- Microplastics have been detected in multiple parts of the human body, with studies suggesting potential harm to various systems.
- The STOMP program will involve phases for measurement, risk assessment, and developing interventions to remove microplastics.
- Concerns remain due to past actions by the administration, including rollbacks on PFAS standards and a recent executive order on agrotoxins.