LENAWEE CO. — A state grant will fund a new study into microplastics in the local water system, raising questions about potential health impacts and future regulation.
The funding is directed to the Rome-Woodstock sanitary district, where officials say microplastics, referred to as P5s, have been detected in the water supply and may enter the human bloodstream.
At this stage, officials say the source of the contamination is unknown, and the study will focus on identifying where those particles are coming from within the system.
The issue is part of a broader concern over emerging contaminants in drinking water, with local officials now working to better understand the scope of the problem and whether additional treatment or monitoring could be needed.
The results of the study could also inform whether new regulations or infrastructure upgrades are required at the local level.