AG Davenport Leads Multistate Push for Stricter EPA Monitoring of Microplastics in Drinking Water

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has emerged as a leading voice in a coalition of 14 states and the District of Columbia urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand its monitoring of microplastics in drinking water. The initiative, which highlights growing public health concerns, follows the EPA’s recent decision to include microplastics on its Contaminant Candidate List, a federal inventory of substances that may require future regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

What Are Microplastics and Why Are They a Concern?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in diameter, that have been detected in water, air, soil, and even the human body. Researchers have linked exposure to these particles with potential cellular and tissue damage, as well as their role as carriers for other toxic chemicals. The coalition, led by Davenport, argues that microplastics pose a unique risk to vulnerable populations, particularly children, who may be more susceptible to long-term health effects.

“Microplastics are everywhere—and children are especially exposed to and harmed by them,” Davenport stated. “Understanding the occurrence of a contaminant of concern is the first step in determining whether further action is needed.”

What’s Next for EPA Regulation?

The coalition is now calling on the EPA to go beyond its current measures. Specifically, they are pushing for microplastics to be included in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 6