by KYLE DAVIDSON

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week joined governors from six other states signing onto a petition demanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency add microplastics to its program collecting data on contaminants not currently covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Led by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the petition requests the EPA include microplastics in the next Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which would develop a monitoring program for drinking water across the country, potentially leading to further regulation. 

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic between 1 nanometer and 5 millimeters wide. They have been found in every ecosystem on the planet as well as in food, beverages and in human and animal tissue.

While the health impacts of these materials is still being researched, exposure to microplastics is suspected to harm reproductive, digestive and respiratory health and could be linked to colon and lung cancer.

Although the EPA was expected to release a proposed Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule in November with a final rule expected in December, the agency has yet to issue the proposed rule. 

Under a provision of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA must include a contaminant on the monitoring list if it receives a petition from seven governors, unless it determines that monitoring a substance would block them from monitoring a contaminant presenting more of a public health concern.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont were the other governors on the petition. 

In a statement, Tami Renkoski, co-founder of the Michigan Microplastics Coalition, praised the governors’ decision, emphasizing the need for data to determine the scope of the issue. 

“It takes guts to lead these days, especially on environmental issues but this is a bipartisan issue that will only continue to get worse if we don’t start doing something now,” Renkoski said. “The health of our children, grandchildren and many ecosystems is at stake. Thank you, Governor Whitmer, for having the guts to lead on this issue.”

Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of Food & Water Watch similarly praised the move. The organization filed its own petition with the EPA last year, calling on the agency to monitor microplastics under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

“This is a momentous step towards gathering critical information we need about the emerging crisis of microplastics in drinking water,” Hauter said.

“We thank Governor Murphy for his leadership on this petition and Governor Whitmer and all the governors that have joined him in this vital effort. We now call on the EPA to grant this petition and get to work. People have a right to know about microplastic contamination in their drinking water.”

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jon King for questions: info@michiganadvance.com.

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