New Jersey Senate Bill SR99

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/6/24
• Refer: 5/6/24
• Report Pass: 5/13/24
• Passed: 6/28/24

Caption

Urges EPA to adopt drinking water standard for microplastics and nanoplastics.

Impact

The resolution brings attention to the concerning fact that microplastics and nanoplastics can pass through conventional water filtration systems and enter the human body, posing potential health risks such as oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, and even developmental issues in fetuses. With the increasing production and inadequate regulation of plastics, the resolution seeks to prompt the EPA to act, paralleling their recent establishment of water quality standards for PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This could lead to changes in national water quality standards and bolster efforts to safeguard public health.

Summary

Senate Resolution No. 99 urges the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop drinking water standards specifically targeting microplastics and nanoplastics. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size, and nanoplastics are even smaller, posing challenges for detection and regulation. The bill highlights the widespread presence of these particles in various water sources and food products, as well as their potential harmful effects on human health. It cites alarming statistics, such as an individual possibly ingesting the equivalent of a credit card in plastic each week.

Contention

Notably, there is contention surrounding the EPA's current inaction on microplastics and nanoplastics regulation despite rising plastic pollution and public health concerns. Critics argue that without prompt standards set by the EPA, the plastics industry continues to operate under outdated regulations that fail to address the modern implications of plastic contaminants. The bill reflects the growing pressure from environmental organizations urging the EPA to update its policies and regulations to better protect human health from the dangers posed by microplastics and nanoplastics.