Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Research the Health Risks of Plastic Exposure

Bipartisan Bill Aims To Close Knowledge Gaps On The Health Effects Of Plastics In Our Bodies And Environment

WASHINGTON, D.C. –This week, U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the Plastic Health Research Act, a bipartisan bill to jumpstart national research into the potential health effects of plastic exposure.

Microplastics have been reported in our Great Lakes, our oceans, our air, and even inside our bodies. From blood and lungs to even human brains, tiny plastic particles are found nearly everywhere. 

Michiganders have already seen the impact of long-lasting but not-fully-understood chemicals on our health with the rise of PFAS levels in our drinking water. The Bipartisan Plastic Health Research Act aims to determine the exact impact of microplastics on human health.

Despite growing concern and emerging reports linking plastic exposure to cell damage and cardiovascular issues, both the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and FDA acknowledge that the science is too limited to fully understand health impacts. 

To address this urgent knowledge gap the Plastic Health Research Act would: 

• Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand and coordinate federal research programs focused on the potential health risks of plastic exposure.
• Establish two coordinated research programs: one grant program at HHS to support research by public, nonprofit, or academic institutions (including consortia with private partners), and another at the NIEHS to create Centers of Excellence for Plastic Exposure Health Research that will serve as national hubs for investigating the health impacts of plastic exposure.
• Prioritize research that fills key gaps in our understanding of how plastics may affect human health.
• Encourage the development of high-quality scientific methods to ensure research findings are comparable and actionable.

 “For too long, we’ve seen report after report detail how the number of microplastics in humans is on the rise, but we haven’t seen studies reporting how this could be impacting human health. That’s why I’m proud to partner with my Republican colleague Frank Lucas and a wide swath of endorsers to introduce the Plastic Health Research Act.” said Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

“Working alongside Congresswoman Stevens, it has become clear how little we understand about the effects of microplastics on the short and long-term health of humans. With a renewed push to tackle this issue in the current Administration, we too are determined to meet the challenge in Congress” said Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas.

 “Microplastics and nanoplastics are in our water, our Great Lakes, our food, and our bodies which may be contributing to all kinds of health and ecological issues,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “With the introduction of the Plastic Health Research Act, Representative Stevens is continuing her leadership to drive efforts to investigate the impacts of plastics on our bodies and to find solutions that will reduce exposure for the benefit of our health now and in the future. We urge Congress to support and advance this legislation as part of a comprehensive approach to eliminate harmful contaminants in the environment.”

"ASPPH strongly supports the introduction of the Plastic Health Research Act, which represents a critical step forward in understanding the impact of microplastics and other plastics on human health. Our Task Force on Climate Change and Health has shown that environmental exposures play a significant role in public health outcomes. By establishing dedicated research grants and centers of excellence at the NIH, this legislation will provide the scientific foundation needed to better determine these risks and develop evidence-based strategies to protect our communities. We applaud this forward-thinking initiative." – Dr. Laura Magaña, ASPPH President and CEO."

“Combating plastics pollution depends on sound scientific research that creates a strong foundation for developing innovative, sustainable solutions. BASF applauds Rep. Stevens and Rep. Lucas for their introduction of the Plastic Health Research Act, which helps to position the U.S. federal government as a leader in microplastics and nanoplastics research. Through interagency coordination and collaboration with external stakeholders, this bipartisan bill will provide a greater understanding of these important issues.” – Catherine Trinkle, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel – Regulatory, Environmental, & Government Affairs, BASF Corporation  

“Our organization has always supported efforts to advance research that protects our environment and public health," said David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH, Executive Director and CEO of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). "Plastics too often persist in nature, failing to break down and potentially causing long-term harm to ecosystems and communities. This bill represents a critical step toward understanding the full scope of the problem—and identifying real, science-based solutions.”

“Dow supports the need for additional research on microplastics and increased interagency coordination to ensure we’re keeping people and our planet safe. The Plastic Health Research Act will improve scientific methods and will enable "gold standard" science to ensure the safety of our food supply. As the FDA has noted, ‘current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health’, but more high-quality research is needed.” – Dave Parrillo, VP of Research and Development, Dow Inc. 

The bill has received broad and bipartisan support from environmental, public health, and industry leaders including LCV Michigan, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), Ocean Conservancy, the National Environmental Health Association, Dow, and BASF.

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