Researcher Sherri Mason told National Public Radio that the move to monitor substances like microplastics in drinking water is "an important first step." Earthjustice attorney Katherine O'Brien told the outlet the effort is "a distraction."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on April 2 that it would move for the first time to designate microplastics and pharmaceuticals as drinking water contaminants, adding them to its draft Contaminant Candidate List. The Safe Drinking Water Act mandates that the agency publish a revised list every five years.
"The agency is publishing the draft of the sixth version of the list, which opens a 60-day public comment period," the Associated Press reported. "It expects to finalize the list by mid-November."
The anti-abortion group Students for Life announced its "national comment collection campaign" in response. The group aims, as it has for some time, to encourage the public to call on the agency to include mifepristone — which can be used to end a pregnancy — on the list.
There is no scientific evidence that mifepristone has any meaningful impact on water supplies. This stands in contrast to contaminants like microplastics as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have been linked to potential health concerns. PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," have been included on the draft list.
Environmental researcher Sherri Mason told National Public Radio that the move to monitor substances like microplastics in drinking water is "an important first step, and I think we should recognize that." Meanwhile, Earthjustice attorney Katherine O'Brien told the outlet it's "a distraction from the real harm that these very same agencies are doing to public health by undermining actual legal protections against toxic chemical exposure in our drinking water, and in our food."
The EPA, under the second Trump administration, previously delayed the implementation of limits on some PFAS in drinking water.
"Leptospirosis can be more serious in certain populations, including pregnant individuals, and may pose risks to both the pregnant person and the fetus," Department of Health spokesperson Adam LeFebvre told CG. "However, the risk can be managed with precautions and early medical care."
"Burden was estimated to be disproportionate in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa," the co-authors wrote in their report. "Implementing regulatory measures to limit exposure to phthalates as a class could help reduce the global [preterm birth] burden."
"What we've found is that when a solution is simple, low-risk, and shows visible results quickly, it becomes more accessible — including to women farmers who may not control large budgets or land," AquaBloom Founder and Chief Executive Officer Michelle Arsjad told CG.
"In emergency settings, there is rarely enough time to conduct full household surveys or collect detailed information, and field teams often face staffing, funding, and logistical constraints," study co-author Sonia Akter told CG. "The survey instrument overcomes these challenges."
