Bynum Introduces Legislation to Examine the Impacts of Microplastics
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05), alongside Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rick Scott (R-FL), and Representative Greg Steube (FL-17), introduced the Microplastics Safety Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time to conduct a study on the health impacts of microplastics in food, water, and other products. The new legislation is a critical step forward in better understanding the threat of microplastics to human health.
As levels of human exposure to plastic continue to rise, scientists and researchers are increasingly concerned about how microplastics could harm human health. Studies have shown a 50% increase in the levels of plastic in human brain samples when compared to 2016, with the average brain containing the weight equivalent to an entire standard plastic spoon. However, there is still limited information about the short- and long-term impacts of microplastic exposure. This legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report back to Congress on how exposure is affecting human health, with particular emphasis on children’s health, cancer, reproductive health, chronic illness, and the endocrine system.
“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.” said Rep. Bynum. “I’m all about the data. That’s why I’m teaming up with Senator Merkley, Senator Scott, and Representative Steube to get the information we need to keep our constituents – and all Americans – safe and healthy.”
“Most of us have been taught the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Too often, the reality for plastics is really the three Bs—buried, burned, and borne out to sea—as dangerous chemicals are seeping into our soil, air, and water,” said Merkley. “Microplastics threaten human health and our environment, and our bipartisan effort will ensure the federal government better understands the dangers they pose, ensuring a healthier planet and future for all Americans.”
“I’m deeply concerned about how microplastics may be impacting the health of Americans - particularly vulnerable groups like our youth,” said Scott. “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. 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.”
“For years, the federal government buried its head in the sand while microplastics infected our water and food supply,” said Steube. “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.”
Background
Researchers at the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) define microplastics as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters to one nanometer. Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet, as well as in food, beverages, and animal and human tissue. When Environment Oregon sampled 30 of Oregon’s most iconic rivers, lakes, and urban waterways, they found microplastic fibers in 100% of the samples.
Full text of the Microplastics Safety Act can be found here.
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