US petition demands microplastic monitoring in drinking water

176 environmental organisations urge the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor microplastics in drinking water.

The petition was filed by the national advocacy group Food & Water Watch (FWW) and co-signed by Beyond Plastics, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for International Environmental Law, among others.

Research indicates microplastics are pervasive in our environment, notes the FWW, and post significant risks to human health.

It says the EPA is required to develop a monitoring programme for up to 30 unregulated or emerging contaminants every five years under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule then drives data collection of emerging contaminants in drinking water. 

This informs future EPA decisions about the contaminants that should be regulated under the SDWA. The next monitoring rule will be proposed in 2025.

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, says, 'We can’t wait another five years or more for the EPA to get serious about investigating the ways in which toxic microplastics pollute our water and invade our bodies.'