The Assembly Health Committee has passed legislation aimed at studying the health impacts of microplastics in California’s drinking water. Sponsored by California state Senator Anthony J. Portantino, this bill requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to conduct research on microplastics found in tap and bottled water, and to establish testing standards. Additionally, bottled water producers would be required to provide annual reports on their levels of microplastic pollution.
This legislative effort is part of Senator Portantino’s broader environmental initiatives, which include the 2018 California Safe Drinking Water Act and a bill focused on researching microplastic pollution in marine environments. Supporters of the legislation include organizations such as California Environmental Voters and Californians Against Waste.
The proposed legislation falls under the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, which oversees the manufacturing, production, processing, and packaging of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics. This law sets quality and labeling standards for bottled and vended water while placing limits on certain contaminants in these water products. The bill would establish a primary drinking water standard for microplastics in bottled water and require an annual report on microplastics found in the source water used for bottling.
Overall, this legislation represents a crucial step towards safeguarding the health and well-being of individuals who rely on California’s drinking water supply.
