EPA flags microplastics, pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water
npr.org • • general
Key Points:
- The Trump administration has, for the first time, included microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the EPA's draft Contaminant Candidate List, addressing public health concerns about these substances in drinking water.
- The EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $144 million initiative called STOMP to develop tools for measuring, monitoring, and eventually removing microplastics from drinking water.
- Inclusion on the list allows local regulators to assess risks and may lead to further research and regulatory action, but it does not guarantee new regulations or immediate protections.
- Environmental advocates criticize the move as largely symbolic, noting the administration's broader efforts to roll back regulations on toxic chemicals and expressing concern over the slow pace of regulatory progress.
- The draft list will be open for public comment for 60 days, while STOMP aims to establish a scientific foundation for understanding and mitigating microplastic contamination in human health.
