WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new $144 million federal initiative aims to identify, measure, and ultimately remove microplastics from the human body, addressing what health officials describe as a growing but poorly understood risk.
What This Means for You
- Scientists are working to detect and measure plastic particles inside the human body
- New tools could lead to future treatments to remove harmful microplastics
- Findings may shape future health guidelines and environmental regulations
The program, called Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics, or STOMP, is being led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
What Microplastics Are and Why They Matter
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that enter the body through food, water, and air.
Researchers have detected these particles in human lungs, blood vessels, and brain tissue, but officials say current science cannot yet determine which types are harmful or how they affect health.
“We don’t have a precise way to measure microplastics in our organs, nor do we understand which ones are affecting us in what ways,” officials said, highlighting a major gap in current research.
How the Program Will Work
The STOMP initiative will roll out in two phases.
The first phase focuses on measuring and understanding how microplastics move through and affect the body. This includes developing standardized testing methods and a potential clinical test to determine how much plastic a person has in their system.
In practical terms, researchers aim to create reliable tools that can consistently detect and track microplastics across different labs and populations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will serve as an independent validator to ensure the accuracy of these measurement methods.
Identifying the Most Harmful Plastics
A key goal of the program is to rank different types of microplastics based on their potential health risks.
This “risk stratification” process will help scientists and policymakers determine which materials pose the greatest threat and should be addressed first.
Developing Removal Methods
The second phase will focus on removing microplastics from the body.
Researchers will explore approaches based on pharmaceutical biology and bioremediation—techniques that use biological systems to break down or eliminate harmful substances.
Officials say understanding where plastics accumulate and how they interact with the body is essential before safe and effective removal methods can be developed.
Who Could Benefit
The program is expected to support new tools that could help individuals and healthcare providers detect and reduce microplastic exposure.
Officials said this could be particularly important for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, people with chronic illnesses, and workers with high exposure levels.
Agency Perspective
“Americans deserve clear answers about how microplastics in their bodies affect their health,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
ARPA-H Director Alicia Jackson said the program is intended to bring clarity to a field with limited data.
“The field is working in the dark. STOMP is turning on the lights,” Jackson said.
Next Steps
ARPA-H is encouraging multidisciplinary teams to participate in the program as it begins development of measurement tools and research methods.
More information about the initiative is available on the program’s official page.
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