Health Groups Urge Governor Ferguson to Address Microplastics Health Crisis
WPSR joined a coalition of 50+ Washington health and environmental groups calling on Governor Ferguson to petition the EPA for microplastics monitoring in drinking water. The initiative would leverage a rarely-used Safe Drinking Water Act provision requiring federal action when seven governors petition for contaminant monitoring.
July 22, 2025 - Seattle, WA
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) joined over 50 Washington environmental, climate, and public health groups in calling on Governor Ferguson to petition the federal government to monitor microplastics in our drinking water. The coalition, led by Food & Water Watch, is urging the Governor to leverage a provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act that requires EPA action when seven governors petition for monitoring of a specific contaminant.
Growing Health Evidence Demands Action
Emerging research reveals that microplastics pose serious threats to human health. These tiny plastic particles - smaller than 5 millimeters - have been detected throughout the human body, including in vital organs.
"Microplastics are contributing to an increased burden of disease in our state and across the country," said Adam Lough, MHA, of WPSR’s Climate and Health Task Force. "That increase in disease burden drives up the cost of healthcare for all players in the industry. Tracking microplastic contamination in our water is a necessary first step in limiting exposure. Governor Ferguson can help us lead the nation in doing so with this effort."
Recent scientific studies have linked microplastics exposure to multiple health concerns:
Cardiovascular damage: Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found microplastics in arterial plaques and linked their presence to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes
Organ infiltration: Studies have detected microplastics in the kidney, liver, brain, and placental tissue
Systemic inflammation: Laboratory studies show microplastics can trigger oxidative stress and inflammatory responses throughout the body
Endocrine disruption: The chemical additives in microplastics may interfere with hormone function
Climate and Health Connection
The microplastics crisis is intrinsically linked to climate change. Approximately 98% of single-use plastic is made from petrochemicals derived from oil and gas, making plastic production a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions. As plastic waste accumulates in the environment, it breaks down into microplastics that contaminate water, air, and food systems.
"This is both a public health emergency and a climate crisis," Lough noted. "By addressing microplastics, we're tackling two of the most pressing challenges facing our generation."
Washington Waters Already Contaminated
Local research confirms widespread microplastic contamination in Washington's waterways:
Puget Soundkeeper found microplastics in all 69 water samples collected across Puget Sound between 2019-2020, with an average of 13 particles per sample
University of Washington research documented plastic microfibers as common on Puget Sound beaches
Seattle Aquarium studies revealed microplastics pollution along Seattle's waterfront
What is WPSR doing to address microplastics?
We're seeing the early warning signs of a public health crisis. Microplastics represent a new class of environmental health threat that requires immediate attention. We cannot wait for the health consequences to fully manifest before taking action.
We’re working with our partners at Food and Water Watch on letters like this, to ensure that Washington leads the way on calling for federal action in monitoring microplastics in our drinking water. Currently, microplastics remain unregulated and unmonitored at the federal level, despite their ubiquitous presence in drinking water systems nationwide. California recently became the first state to require microplastics testing, but comprehensive federal oversight is essential to protect public health.
The petition leverages a rarely-used provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act: when seven governors petition the EPA to monitor a specific contaminant, the agency must add it to the national monitoring list. This would be the first step toward eventual federal regulation of microplastics in drinking water.
WPSR is also conducting its own learning and work. Interested in helping us tackle the health and climate impacts of microplastics? Sign-up for WPSR’s climate updates and consider joining our microplastics and waste working group, which meets monthly to discuss these issues.
For more information about WPSR's work on environmental health issues, visit wpsr.org/climate.