EPA flags microplastics, pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water
3 hours ago
- #Water Contamination
- #Public Health
- #Environmental Regulation
- The Trump administration added microplastics and pharmaceuticals to the EPA's draft Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water, marking their first inclusion.
- The EPA and HHS announced a $144 million initiative called STOMP to study microplastics' effects on human health and develop removal tools.
- Critics argue the listing is performative, lacking regulatory teeth, as the administration has rolled back protections for toxic chemicals like PFAS.
- Inclusion on the list enables local risk assessments but doesn't guarantee regulations, with potential delays of a decade or more.
- Environmental groups petitioned to add microplastics to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for data collection, which is still pending.
- The draft list is open for public comment for 60 days, while STOMP aims to establish a scientific foundation for addressing microplastics.