What's Happening?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced new initiatives to address the presence of microplastics and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. This move marks the first time these contaminants
have been included in the EPA's draft list of potential drinking water contaminants. The initiative, part of the Make America Healthy Again movement, aims to respond to public concerns about the safety of drinking water. The EPA's draft list, which is updated every five years, now includes microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals like PFAS. The HHS has also launched a $144 million program called STOMP, led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), to study and eventually remove microplastics from drinking water.
Why It's Important?
The inclusion of microplastics and pharmaceuticals in the EPA's draft list is a significant step towards understanding and potentially regulating these contaminants in drinking water. This move could lead to more comprehensive data collection and research, which are crucial for developing effective regulatory measures. The initiative reflects growing public concern over the health impacts of microplastics, which have been linked to various health issues, although more research is needed to establish causation. The actions by the EPA and HHS could pave the way for future regulations that protect public health and ensure safer drinking water, addressing long-standing demands from environmental groups and the public.
What's Next?
The draft Contaminant Candidate List will be open for public comment for 60 days, allowing stakeholders to provide input. The EPA will then decide whether to set national limits on the levels of these contaminants in public drinking water. The process of collecting data and establishing regulations could take several years, but the current actions lay the groundwork for future policy decisions. Environmental groups and some state governors have petitioned for microplastics to be included in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which would require the EPA to collect data on their prevalence in drinking water. The outcome of these petitions and the public comment period will influence the next steps in regulating microplastics.
