Joint Initiative to Combat Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed a collaborative effort on Thursday aimed at addressing the presence of microplastics and pharmaceuticals in the nation’s water and human bodies.
During a press conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stressed the pressing nature of this health crisis, referencing a surge in plastic levels found in human organs.
Kennedy pointed out alarming research indicating that plastic particles were detected in samples of human blood, lung tissue, liver, kidneys, and even placenta. He emphasized, “This isn’t an isolated case; this marks the new normal.” He added that it’s not just a distant risk but rather a tangible issue, with rising evidence of its impact on human health. Notably, he mentioned that the concentration of plastic in the human brain spiked by 50% since 2016, meaning that, on average, there’s roughly “a spoonful of plastic in every human brain.”
Additionally, Kennedy cited a clinical study showing that individuals with microplastics in their arterial plaque face a 450% higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and mortality within three years. “We will not overlook these warning signs,” he assured. “This requires further investigation.”
In response to this escalating public health concern, the government is launching the STOMP (Systematic Targeting of Microplastics) initiative. This ambitious national program, with a budget of approximately $134 million to $144 million, hopes to accurately assess microplastics in the body, understand their biological risks, and safely eliminate them.
Dr. Alicia Jackson, who leads the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency, mentioned that a swift clinical test for microplastics will be developed that takes under 15 minutes and costs less than $50. “STOMP is set to accomplish in five years what the field has struggled with for decades,” Jackson noted. “This area has been in the shadows for too long; STOMP will illuminate it.”
On the environmental side, Zeldin introduced the draft of the sixth Pollutant Candidate List, which comprises 75 chemicals, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, disinfection by-products, and several microorganisms.
“For far too long, concerns over plastic in drinking water have been raised, only to be ignored. Today, that changes,” Zeldin declared. “By making microplastics part of our potential pollutant list for the first time, the EPA is committed to following the science and prioritizing the health of Americans.”
The EPA has also released health benchmarks for around 400 drugs that might be present in drinking water, including various antibiotics and hormones. Although these benchmarks aren’t legally binding, Zeldin described them as crucial resources for local leaders to evaluate risks and safeguard communities.
Experts at the conference underscored the significant financial burden associated with plastic exposure. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a pediatrician from New York University, remarked, “Plastic exposure currently tacks on $250 billion to U.S. healthcare costs just from the limited number of chemicals we’re aware of. That’s about 1.2% of our gross domestic product being lost due to toxic substances stemming from plastics. We might be underestimating this issue’s magnitude.”
