RFK Jr. and Lee Zeldin to Study Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals in US Drinking Water
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F.
- The initiative is part of the Trump administration's effort to deliver on the promise to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).
- A central component of the announcement is the EPA's draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announced a coordinated set of actions on April 2, 2026, to protect the nation’s drinking water from microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants.
The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s effort to deliver on the promise to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The coordinated actions include the release of a draft list of contaminants for public comment and the launch of a new federal program to study the presence of plastics within the human body.
The Sixth Contaminant Candidate List
A central component of the announcement is the EPA’s draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6). This list serves as a critical tool under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to guide research, funding, and potential future regulations regarding emerging threats in public water systems.
For the first time in the history of the program, the EPA has designated microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups. Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that this action is a direct response to long-standing concerns from millions of Americans regarding the contents of their drinking water.
The draft CCL 6 identifies four primary contaminant groups: microplastics, pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and disinfection byproducts. In addition to these groups, the list includes nine microbes and 75 individual chemicals that may be present in public drinking water systems.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
For too long, Americans have vocalized concerns about plastics and pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. That ends today,
The EPA intends to use the CCL to prioritize the collection of information and the allocation of funding to better understand the potential health risks associated with these substances, while maintaining a commitment to scientific standards.
The STOMP Program
Alongside the EPA’s actions, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announced the creation of a $144-million program known as STOMP, which stands for the systematic targeting of microplastics.
The STOMP program is designed to investigate the impact of microplastics on human health. According to Secretary Kennedy, the government will focus the program on three primary questions: what is currently in the human body, what is causing harm, and how those plastics can be removed.
This program represents a coordinated effort between the EPA and HHS to address microplastics as one of the most urgent and growing public health challenges facing the United States.
Advocacy and Public Response
The announcements have drawn mixed reactions from environmental advocates. Some have praised the government’s decision to elevate microplastics and pharmaceuticals to priority status on the contaminant list.
Other advocates expressed doubt regarding the initiatives, citing recent rollbacks of chemical protections as a reason for their skepticism.
The EPA has opened the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List for public comment to allow for further input as the agency determines future regulatory steps for these emerging threats.