Today, over two hundred and fifty doctors, nurses and other health care and public health professionals and organizations sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to add microplastics to the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) and monitor for these contaminants in our drinking water.

“As health care and public health professionals or an organization representing health care and public health professionals, we are writing to express our grave concern regarding the pervasiveness of microplastics and their presence in our nation’s drinking water,” the letter states.

In the letter, health professionals noted how current research has linked microplastics exposure to various cancers, immune system disruption and developmental or reproductive harm and how microplastic exposure disproportionately impacts low-income and marginalized communities. 

“As both a physician and a public health professional, I am extremely concerned about the impacts of microplastics on the health of Maine people,” said Lani Graham, MD, MPH Maine.  Safe drinking water is the very essence of public health. The EPA must act now.”   

All of this evidence points to the clear need for regulation of microplastics in drinking water – and the first real, substantive step towards that is by EPA monitoring for these contaminants in our drinking water under the UCMR 6, which EPA is required to issue every five years and is due to be finalized by the end of 2026. 

“EPA has the opportunity right now to monitor for microplastics and give us the data we need to inform strong regulation – and it should not waste it,” said Food & Water Watch Public Water for All Campaign Director Mary Grant. “The agency should honor the concerns of the hundreds of health professionals across the country who have made it clear with this letter that microplastics are a serious health concern and need to be addressed.”

The proposed UCMR 6 is under review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. It is expected to be released for public comment in the coming weeks with a final rule by the end of this year. 

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