HHS Launches $144M Initiative to Address Microplastics in Human Health
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $144 million initiative to investigate the impact of microplastics on human health. The program, named Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP), is spearheaded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The initiative aims to measure microplastic exposure in humans, identify sources of risk, and develop solutions to mitigate these risks. Microplastics, which are nearly invisible, have been found in human lungs, arterial plaques, and brains, raising concerns about their potential to cause disease. The program will focus on developing affordable and accessible tools to measure and understand the distribution and effects of microplastics in the body.