Plastic Health Research Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand and coordinate federal research on the health effects of plastic exposure, and authorizes grants and centers of excellence for that purpose.

Sec. 2, Plastic exposure health research: The Secretary of Health and Human Services, consulting with EPA, FDA, NOAA, NIST and NIEHS, must expand and coordinate research on plastic exposure and health effects, prioritizing reproducible methods, standard definitions for microplastics and nanoplastics, validated testing, and filling research gaps. The Secretary may award grants or contracts to public, nonprofit, academic or consortium entities for such research, prioritizing the same areas. Applicants must submit required information. The Secretary must report to Congress annually for five years and share findings with specified agencies. Up to $10 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. "Plastic exposure" is defined as exposure to macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics from production, manufacturing, occupational, environmental, end-user, recycling, degradation, and waste sources.

Sec. 2, Centers of excellence for plastic exposure health research: The Secretary, through the Director of the Institute, may award grants or funding agreements to public, nonprofit, academic or consortium entities to establish centers of excellence for research on health effects of plastic exposure. Centers must prioritize standard definitions, improving scientific quality, filling research gaps, and developing replicable testing methodologies. Purposes include improving research quality, identifying exposures, conducting hazard and risk assessments, and increasing public awareness where warranted. Funds may be used for developing replicable assessment methodologies, applying validated exposure methodologies, supporting health impact research, and increasing public awareness. Grants or agreements last five years, renewable after peer review. The Secretary must coordinate with other agencies and share findings, and report to Congress annually for five years. Up to $10 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.