Microplastics are now found in human lungs, brains, and arterial plaques. The science hasn't kept pace with our exposure.

In April 2026, the U.S. HHS and EPA launched coordinated efforts to tackle microplastic contamination as a public health crisis.

A $144 million ARPA-H program standing for 'Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics.' Its goal: map and mitigate bodily plastics.

Currently, testing labs produce inconsistent results. STOMP will develop gold-standard tests to quantify a patient's plastic burden.

Not all polymers behave the same. The program will rank plastics by biological harm, prioritizing the most toxic variants for action.

Phase two targets removal. Drawing on bioremediation, scientists will attempt a medical moonshot: safely extracting plastic from organs.

In parallel, the EPA added microplastics to its Contaminant Candidate List for the first time, paving the way for future regulation.

The issue stems from massive material systems. Synthetic textiles, tire abrasion, and packaging continually degrade into our environment.

STOMP prioritizes high-risk populations, including pregnant women, children, and workers exposed to high levels of industrial plastic dust.