More than 170 environmental groups are pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitor microplastics in drinking water, citing significant health risks from this widespread pollutant.
Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- A legal petition by 170 organizations calls on the EPA to include microplastics in its Safe Drinking Water Act monitoring by 2026.
- Microplastics, linked to severe health risks such as cancer and neurotoxicity, are found in drinking water, food and air worldwide.
- Critics argue delays in regulation will compound health threats, especially as political shifts could weaken pollutant oversight.
Key quote:
“The EPA has been thinking about it, but they have not been acting, and the goal here is to get them to act.”
— Erin Doran, senior attorney, Food & Water Watch
Why this matters:
Microplastics, ubiquitous in the environment, have been shown to infiltrate human tissues and pose risks including developmental and cardiovascular issues. Advocates say regulatory action is critical to addressing this pervasive and escalating health threat.
Related: Microplastics weathered by water are more likely to infiltrate an animal’s cells
