The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have introduced new federal actions to address microplastics in drinking water and assess associated health risks. The measures include updates to drinking water monitoring priorities and the launch of a national research initiative.
EPA has added microplastics to its draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) for the first time. The list identifies contaminants that may require future regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The update also includes pharmaceuticals, PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and additional chemical and microbial contaminants found in public water systems.The agency will use the CCL process to guide future research, data collection, and regulatory evaluation. The draft list is currently open for public comment before finalization.
HHS, through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, has launched the Systematic Targeting of Microplastics (STOMP) program. The initiative will focus on measuring microplastics in water and human tissue, identifying exposure pathways, and developing methods to remove microplastics from the human body.
The program is in the research and development phase and will support federal efforts to better understand the health impacts of microplastics. Agencies will coordinate data collection and scientific analysis to inform future policy decisions.
These actions expand federal oversight of emerging contaminants and support long-term efforts to improve drinking water quality. The initiatives aim to strengthen monitoring frameworks and guide future regulatory and public health responses.