Re: “In a warming world, freshwater production is moving deep beneath the sea” (Jan. 15, Enterprise):
The article reminds us of the consuming water disaster our planet faces. In reality, the presence of microplastics in consuming water is an instance of this looming problem. Between 2019 and 2020, Puget Soundkeeper discovered microplastics in 69 of 69 water samples. Different analysis has discovered microplastics in mind samples. Whereas we wrestle with legacy “endlessly chemical compounds” like PFAS in Yakima (“WA ramps up stress on Military over PFAS contamination close to Yakima,” Aug. 27, Atmosphere), we’re permitting a brand new era of contaminants — microplastics and nanoplastics — to go unmonitored in our consuming water.
Happily, a coalition of governors — however not together with our personal — just lately petitioned the Environmental Safety Company so as to add microplastics to an upcoming monitoring rule. This can be a essential step, but when the EPA declines to behave, we should wait one other 5 years to re-petition the EPA for the reason that rule is barely issued each 5 years.
Given this urgency, I urge our state leaders to affix the decision for the EPA to observe microplastics instantly. We want data-driven transparency to guard Washington’s water and public well being.
Selden Prentice, Seattle
