By Yashvi Kiran
West Chester Green Team Newsletter, July 2026

Clean drinking water is something most of us take for granted. We turn on a faucet, fill a glass, and assume the water is safe. However, scientists are increasingly finding tiny plastic particles called microplastics in water sources around the world. Because we still do not fully understand how these particles affect human health, it is important that we begin monitoring them in our drinking water.

Recently, we met with Daniel Casey from Representative Chrissy Houlahan’s office to discuss the importance of tracking microplastics in drinking water and encouraging further research on their impacts.

Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in the lungs, heart, brain, and digestive system. Research suggests that they may contribute to breathing problems, inflammation, cancer, and heart attacks. Scientists have also found that some plastics contain chemicals that can disrupt hormones in youth, potentially affecting growth, development, and mood regulation. While researchers are still studying the long-term effects, the growing evidence suggests that microplastics are not something we should ignore.

One of the biggest challenges is that we cannot fully understand the risks unless we know where microplastics are present and how much people are being exposed to. Studies estimate that people consume around 1.5 grams of microplastics each week. Scientists have even found that brewing a single cup of tea with certain plastic tea bags can release billions of tiny plastic particles. If we do not monitor microplastics in our drinking water, it becomes much harder to determine how exposure changes over time and what actions should be taken to reduce it.

Microplastics are also connected to broader environmental issues. Plastic production relies heavily on fossil fuels and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing plastic pollution can therefore benefit both human health and the climate. In addition, researchers have found that microplastics can carry pathogens through water systems, creating another reason to better understand their presence in our environment.

Many environmental problems become difficult to solve because we wait too long to study them. By monitoring microplastics now, we can gather the information needed to make informed decisions in the future. Understanding where these particles are found, how people are exposed to them, and how levels change over time is the first step toward protecting public health and reducing plastic pollution.

We are grateful that Daniel Casey took the time to meet with us and discuss this issue. I hope that conversations like these encourage greater research and monitoring of microplastics so that we can better protect our communities, our environment, and future generations.