Clean water is a human right, yet as many as 150 million people in the U.S. — nearly half the population — could have unreliable access to safe water due to contamination from toxic lead and PFAS “forever chemicals.” In the midst of this injustice, research is growing on another major threat: microplastics.

At our March Livable Future LIVE event, we spoke with the Director of the Public Water for All campaign, Mary Grant, researcher Natalie Balbuena, and volunteer Analyse Adams to learn more about the threat of microplastics in our drinking water and how we can address it.

What Dangers Do Microplastics Pose to Our Health?

As Natalie explained, microplastics are now ubiquitous in our environment, including our air, soil, crops, animals, and water. These pieces of plastic are less than five millimeters in length, and most break off of larger pieces with everyday use. For example, researchers have found that opening a plastic bag of chips releases microplastics into the food. 

Now, we’re seeing these microplastics throughout our bodies wreaking all kinds of havoc. They disrupt our liver function, mess with our hormones, and even cause cell death. 

“Microplastics have also been found in the brain,” Natalie said. “And yes, I did just say the brain — where they can actually accumulate. Studies have estimated the amount that accumulates in the brain has increased by roughly 50% from 2016 to 2024.”

One major exposure pathway? Our drinking water. Notably, bottled water is a major source of microplastic pollution. Drinking bottled water can expose you to six times as many microplastics compared to tap. Drinking tap water out of glass and metal bottles can help prevent exposure to microplastics.

The research on health impacts and exposure pathways is growing rapidly. But we need to know more to be able to regulate microplastic pollution and protect our communities. 

Right now, we have a major opportunity to fast-track monitoring and get on the path to actual regulations. Every five years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must come up with a list of up to 30 unregulated contaminants to monitor. The EPA expects to propose the next round of contaminants by the end of this year and finalize it by the end of next year. We’ve petitioned the EPA to include microplastics.

How Can We Push for Protections?

The Trump EPA — deadset on massive deregulation — won’t do this on its own. But we also can’t wait four years to get this process started. That’s where the next phase of our strategy comes in, Mary told us. 

The Food & Water Watch legal team found a provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act that if the EPA receives a petition from at least seven governors, it needs to include that contaminant on its monitoring list or justify why its inclusion would bump off another contaminant of more pressing public health concern. 

So we’re pressuring governors across the country — especially those who have already shown leadership on microplastic pollution — to join a formal petition to the EPA as part of our Stop Microplastics Now campaign.

This will allow us to get the ball rolling on regulation. To our knowledge, it would be the first time this provision of the law has been used since it was passed in 1996.

“It’s a really winnable issue, and it will increase public knowledge about microplastics,” Mary said. “This opportunity is too big to pass up. This is a once-in-a-five-year chance, and we can’t wait any longer for safe microplastic-free water.”

In New York, volunteer Analyse Adams has reached out to other organizations in her area to sign a letter to Governor Hochul, calling on her to champion microplastic-free water. So far, 50 groups have signed on.

“Water is important to me because it’s so essential to life, and it affects everything,” said Analyse. “Just as Natalie explained — human health, animals, plants, the climate, and so on. I just want to know that I’ve helped future generations to have access to clean and safe drinking water.

Join Our Fight Against Microplastic Pollution!

This kind of work is more important than ever. Together, we can hold our elected officials accountable for protecting our health and making real progress despite the Musk-Trump administration.

Here are two ways you can take action right now:

• Send a message to your governor to ask them to be one of our seven champions for microplastic-free water. 
• Join our Water action volunteer team to support all our water campaigns, including Stop Microplastics Now.

Check Out the Full Event

Watch the full event to learn more about:

• How single-use plastics and the fossil fuel industry contribute to the microplastic pollution crisis,
• More practical steps you can take to avoid your exposure to microplastics,
• The wide-ranging research on microplastics’ harm to our bodies,
• The current state of microplastics testing, and more.

Resources Shared at the Event

• Food & Water turns 20 this year! Check out this interview with our founder and executive director looking back on 20 years of protecting our food, water, and climate: “Against All Odds: An Interview With Wenonah Hauter.”
• Check out our Strategic Plan for the next four years, laying out how we’ll fight for clean, safe, affordable water and more.
• Read Natalie’s article and fact sheet on microplastics in our drinking water.
• Join us for our next Livable Future LIVE on April 23. We’ll be screening the documentary The Jungle and hosting a Q&A with the director! RSVP here.
• Check out upcoming volunteer opportunities.

We’d love to see you at our annual benefit and virtual conference! Check out the schedule and speakers and register here.