Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ More than 170 leading environmental organizations have filed a legal petition urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin monitoring microplastics in drinking water. This move, seen as a critical first step in tackling a growing public health threat, could reshape the nation’s approach to pollution management.
Microplastics, minute particles of plastic that originate from various sources such as clothing fibers, cookware, and vehicle tires, have infiltrated nearly every corner of the planet. Researchers have detected these particles in remote regions such as the Arctic, deep ocean trenches, and even atop Mount Everest. Studies have also revealed their alarming presence in the human body, including brain and placental tissues, where they can cross biological barriers and disrupt normal functions.
These particles often carry hazardous compounds, such as PFAS, bisphenol, and phthalates, which are linked to severe health issues including cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental toxicity. Individuals with microplastics in their heart tissue face a doubled risk of heart attacks or strokes in subsequent years.
Despite independent research showing microplastics in virtually all drinking water samples and estimates indicating the average person consumes 4,000 microplastic particles annually through water, the EPA has yet to take substantive action to monitor or regulate this pollutant.
The petition, submitted under the Safe Drinking Water Act, calls on the EPA to classify microplastics as an emerging contaminant and include them in its monitoring programs starting in 2026. Erin Doran, a senior attorney at Food & Water Watch, emphasized the urgency: “The EPA has been thinking about it, but they have not been acting, and the goal here is to get them to act.”
The EPA has shown some interest in addressing microplastics under its Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, a mechanism that allows for periodic monitoring of new contaminants every five years. However, the agency has not yet confirmed the inclusion of microplastics in the upcoming 2026 monitoring cycle.
California has taken the lead by becoming the first state to monitor microplastics in drinking water. However, environmental advocates are concerned about delays at the federal level. The next monitoring list, which the EPA is assembling this year, will set the tone for national action—or inaction. Not including microplastics could delay meaningful oversight by an additional five years.
“The importance of acting now … is because it happens in five-year cycles, and those delays could cascade down the line,” Doran explained.
If the EPA fails to act, environmental groups have signaled their willingness to take legal action to compel the agency to include microplastics in its next batch of emerging contaminants. Advocates argue that public health risks posed by microplastics are too significant to ignore, and delaying regulation only exacerbates the issue.
As research increasingly highlights the ubiquity and risks of microplastics, the pressure on regulatory bodies like the EPA to act is mounting. Monitoring is not just a scientific necessity; it is a moral imperative to protect the health of millions of Americans.
The petition marks a pivotal moment in the fight against plastic pollution. If successful, it could set the stage for stricter regulations, more robust public health protections, and a cleaner future. Until then, environmental groups remain steadfast in their advocacy, urging the EPA to prioritize this critical issue without delay.
