Plastic Health Research Act seeks $50M to study microplastics' impact on humans
Two U.S. representatives have introduced the bipartisan Plastic Health Research Act, which would allocate $10 million a year from 2026 to 2030 to fund research into the potential health effects of plastic exposure.
"For too long, we've seen report after report detail how the number of microplastics in humans is on the rise, but we haven't seen studies reporting how this could be impacting human health," Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said in a news release.
"Working alongside Congresswoman Stevens, it has become clear how little we understand about the effects of microplastics on the short- and long-term health of humans," Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said in the release. "With a renewed push to tackle this issue in the current administration, we too are determined to meet the challenge in Congress."
Both the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledge that existing data is "too limited to fully understand health impacts," the release said, despite reports linking plastic exposure to cell damage and cardiovascular issues.
The bill would establish a grant program for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support research by public, nonprofit or academic institutions, including consortia with private partners. It also would establish a grant program for NIEHS to create centers of excellence for plastic exposure health research "that will serve as national hubs for investigating the health impacts of plastic exposure," according to the release.
Improving data quality
The centers would "conduct and improve the quality of science" to inform public health determinations and increase public awareness of the potential health effects caused by plastic exposure, the proposed bill said. Their research would focus on developing standard material definitions, improving the quality and comparability of scientific results, and developing vetted testing methods for micro- and nanoplastics "that can be replicated and can be compared to other testing methodologies."
While improving scientific results, the centers would identify potential sources of plastic exposure and develop and conduct hazard and risk assessments "that can be replicated and compared to other methodologies," the bill said.
The proposal has bipartisan support from environmental, public health and industry leaders, including the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Ocean Conservancy, the National Environmental Health Association, Dow Inc. and BASF Corp.
"Combating plastics pollution depends on sound scientific research that creates a strong foundation for developing innovative, sustainable solutions," Catherine Trinkle, vice president and deputy general counsel of regulatory, environmental and government affairs at BASF, said in the release. "The Plastic Health Research Act … helps to position the U.S. federal government as a leader in microplastics and nanoplastics research. Through interagency coordination and collaboration with external stakeholders, this bipartisan bill will provide a greater understanding of these important issues."
"Dow supports the need for additional research on microplastics and increased interagency coordination to ensure we're keeping people and our planet safe," Dave Parrillo, vice president of research and development at Dow, said. "The bill will improve scientific methods and will enable 'gold standard' science to ensure the safety of our food supply."
"Our task force on climate change and health has shown that environmental exposures play a significant role in public health outcomes," said Laura Magaña, ASPPH president and CEO. "By establishing dedicated research grants and centers of excellence at the NIH, this legislation will provide the scientific foundation needed to better determine these risks and develop evidence-based strategies to protect our communities."
"Our organization has always supported efforts to advance research that protects our environment and public health," said David Dyjack, executive director and CEO of the National Environmental Health Association. "Plastics too often persist in nature, failing to break down and potentially causing long-term harm to ecosystems and communities. This bill represents a critical step toward understanding the full scope of the problem and identifying real, science-based solutions."