HHS to research effects of microplastics on human body

Microplastics have been found inside every human organ in recent years, according to Alicia Jackson, the director of the Health and Human Services Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H. On Thursday, Jackson announced a new program with $144 million in funding to research the effects of microscopic plastic particles, or microplastics, on human health and how to remove them.

While scientists in recent years have documented microplastics in clothing, food, and drinking water building up inside the human body, HHS says they are still developing best practices to measure them and understand what illnesses they may either cause or exacerbate.

Are microplastics harmful? Microplastics are one part of the exposome—the environmental factors that affect human health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While lead exposure and smoking have quantifiable effects on healthy organs, HHS admits that it’s not yet clear how microplastics affect health. The department points to recent studies suggesting links to brain disease and colorectal cancer.

How about the environmental issue? Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his department has added microplastics to the Contaminant Candidate List alongside so-called PFAS “forever chemicals” and pharmaceuticals. The items in these lists are not currently regulated but will be considered for future safe drinking water regulations.

Dig deeper: Read Heather Frank’s report on microplastics for more background.