Maryland calls on EPA to address microfiber pollution

BALTIMORE — Maryland Legal professional Common Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 16 states urging the U.S. Environmental Safety Company to deal with microfiber air pollution, the Legal professional Common’s Workplace introduced Monday. 

In a letter, the states urge the EPA and Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to judge their authority below the Clear Water Act to manage microfiber air pollution.

“America wants to hitch different international locations which can be already serving to forestall plastic microfibers from choking our surroundings and public well being,” Legal professional Common Brown mentioned.      

The Legal professional Common’s workplace mentioned 640,000 to 1,500,000 plastic microfibers are shed from artificial clothes throughout wash cycles, making them a major supply of microplastic air pollution on the earth’s water. 

The state additionally mentioned microfibers are a hurt to human well being.  “Microfibers could be related to hormonal cancers, reproductive issues together with infertility, metabolic issues together with diabetes and weight problems, bronchial asthma, and neurodevelopmental issues together with autism,” the Legal professional Common’s workplace mentioned. 

The letter urges the EPA and NOAA to take a position funding into analysis into the harms of microfibers to human well being, and put money into microfiber seize applied sciences, similar to washer microfiber filtration techniques.  

The Legal professional Common’s workplace mentioned these applied sciences have already been acknowledged as potential options by the EPA, and that the company ought to “act by itself suggestions.”