Assembly Health Committee passes bill mandating study of microplastics in drinking water

The Assembly Health Committee in California has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino to study the health impacts of microplastics in drinking water. The bill requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to examine microplastics in both tap and bottled water and establish testing standards. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reporting on microplastic levels from bottled water producers.

This effort is part of Portantino’s ongoing environmental initiatives, which also include the 2018 California Safe Drinking Water Act and a bill focused on researching microplastic pollution in marine environments. Supporters of the legislation include California Environmental Voters and Californians Against Waste.

The legislation would fall under the Sherman Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law, which regulates the manufacture, production, processing, and packaging of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics. This law sets standards for quality and labeling in bottled water and vended water, as well as limits on certain contaminants in these products.

Specifically, the bill would require the establishment of a primary drinking water standard for microplastics in bottled water. It would also necessitate an annual report on the levels of microplastics in source water used in bottling.