The US Environmental Protection Agency will study microplastics and drug residues in drinking water.

The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed to add microplastics and pharmaceutical ingredients to its list of contaminants in drinking water, which could lead to regulations on these compounds. The US Health Advanced Research Projects Agency is launching a $144 million project to measure the levels of microplastics in the human body and study methods to remove these substances. The EPA's announcement marks the beginning of a process that includes consulting scientists and opening a public comment period, and the entire regulatory process could take several years.