EPA Flags Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals as Contaminants in Drinking Water

The EPA has added microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its draft Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water, highlighting potential public health concerns alongside PFAS and other chemicals. This update, part of the Safe Drinking Water Act’s regular review, allows local regulators to evaluate risks and encourages further research, though it does not mandate regulatory action.

Complementing this, HHS launched the $144 million STOMP initiative to study microplastics’ effects on human health and develop measurement and removal tools. Public comment on the draft list will be open for 60 days, offering stakeholders an opportunity to inform future policy and research priorities. Read more from NPR here.