Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) has introduced bipartisan legislation to conduct a study on the health effects of microplastic exposure.
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, either originally manufactured as beads or formed as a result of larger pieces breaking down. Due to their small size, microplastics enter water, threatening both marine and terrestrial life, although the health effects on humans have yet to be studied.
According to Rep. Steube, no formal study on microplastic exposure in humans has been conducted; however, a recent American Heart Association study suggested a causal link between microplastics and increased rates of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease in coastal communities.
"For years, the federal government buried its head in the sand while microplastics infected our water and food supply," said Rep. Steube in his press release, adding, "Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota Counties have all been flagged as high-risk areas for microplastic exposure, with alarming rates of chronic illness and disease. Yet the FDA still tells Americans not to worry. This is unacceptable. Americans deserve to know what they're being exposed to, how it's affecting their health, and what Washington plans to do about it."
Representative Janelle Bynum (D-OR), the bill's cosponsor, said, "We can't take a wait-and-see approach here – it's time to be proactive. We've got to get a handle on how microplastics are getting in our food, beverages, and everyday items, and figure out how they're affecting our health."
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is introducing companion legislation in the Senate, where he said, "I'm deeply concerned about how microplastics may be impacting the health of Americans, particularly vulnerable groups like our youth. As chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I'm also especially focused on the long-term harm microplastics pose to aging Americans."
"Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in the blood, liver, placenta, and even brain tissue, and have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and chronic illness," Rep. Scott continued. "The Microplastics Safety Act is a critical step toward understanding the full scope of these risks. As exposure continues to grow through food, water, air, and everyday products, this legislation will help ensure we're guided by sound science to protect public health and our next generation."
