Raleigh, N.C. – North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is leading a bipartisan coalition of state officials urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require public water systems to test for microplastics. In a letter filed on the final day of public comment for the EPA’s proposed sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR‑6), Jackson and attorneys general from Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia asked the agency to add microplastics to its upcoming monitoring list.
Why microplastics matter
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters that have been found in drinking water, food, air, and even human blood, lungs and reproductive tissue. Scientists are still studying the health implications, but early research suggests possible inflammation, organ damage, and cardiovascular effects. The EPA has said more research is needed before it can set a safety limit for drinking water.
EPA’s current stance
The agency argues that there is no validated, nationwide‑compatible method for measuring microplastics in drinking water with the accuracy required for federal monitoring. It also notes a statutory deadline in December that would make it impossible to develop such a method in time for UCMR‑6, which is slated to require testing for 30 contaminants between 2028 and 2030.
EPA officials warned that if microplastics were added to UCMR‑6, many public water systems would be unable to monitor the contaminant effectively. Nevertheless, the attorneys general contend that the lack of a standard testing method makes federal action more urgent, not less. They are requesting that the EPA establish a clear definition of microplastics and develop uniform detection methods.
A phased approach
Recognizing that immediate, universal testing may not be feasible, the coalition’s letter proposes a phased strategy. The EPA could begin by requiring a smaller, representative sample of water systems to test for microplastics, thereby building a national data set that can guide future regulation.
Historical context
In April, the EPA placed microplastics on its draft Contaminant Candidate List, calling the move a “historic action.” While inclusion on the candidate list signals that the agency will study the contaminant, it does not obligate water systems to test for it nor does it set a drinking‑water limit. The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule is designed to collect data that inform future regulatory decisions.
Past monitoring rounds have proven valuable. For example, data gathered under the third monitoring rule (2013‑2015) helped the EPA decide to regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, limits that were finalized in 2024 after a decade‑long process. However, a review by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) found that only two of more than 200 chemicals on candidate lists since 1998 have ever received federal drinking‑water limits.
State leaders push for action
“We know that microplastics are a real public health concern that we need to take seriously,” Jackson said. “I’m asking the EPA to fix this oversight.” The attorney general’s appeal reflects a growing concern among state officials that without federal data, local communities cannot assess the true scope of contamination.
Jackson’s letter to the EPA underscores the principle that safe drinking water is a fundamental right and that the federal government must provide the tools for states and municipalities to protect their families. By urging the agency to develop testing standards and begin data collection, the coalition hopes to lay the groundwork for future protective regulations.
What’s next?
The EPA will review the public comments submitted before the December deadline and decide whether to amend UCMR‑6. If the agency adopts the coalition’s recommendations, North Carolina’s public water systems could soon be part of a national effort to track microplastic contamination, giving families and local officials the information they need to safeguard health.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
