Key Takeaways:
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the $144 million STOMP (Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics) program through ARPA-H on April 2, targeting standardized detection tools and affordable removal methods.
The program aims to develop a microplastics test that takes under 15 minutes and costs less than $50, with coordinated EPA research on drinking water contamination.
Separately, 18-year-old Mia Heller won an ISEF award for a garage-built ferrofluid and magnet filtration system that removes 95.52% of microplastics with 87% reusability, already outperforming municipal treatment plants.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program on April 2, committing $144 million through ARPA-H to develop standardized tools for detecting microplastics in the human body and affordable methods for removing them. The program targets a detection test that takes under 15 minutes and costs less than $50.
"Americans deserve clear answers about how microplastics affect their health," Kennedy said in the announcement. The program will focus on three areas: measuring human exposure, identifying specific health risks, and developing targeted removal solutions. STOMP is coordinated with the EPA on drinking water contamination research.
The announcement lands alongside a related breakthrough. Mia Heller, an 18-year-old from Virginia, won an ISEF award for a microplastic filtration system she built in her garage using ferrofluid and magnets, achieving a 95.52% removal rate with 87% reusability. A federal agency is spending $144 million to develop what a teenager already prototyped.
Microplastics have been detected in human brain tissue, blood, and organs. The health implications are still being studied, but the detection gap is the immediate problem. Without standardized, affordable testing, researchers can't map exposure patterns or measure whether interventions work. STOMP is designed to close that gap.
The program connects to a broader food and health infrastructure question. Microplastics contaminate water, soil, and food supply chains. Any solution that addresses water quality at scale also addresses food safety. The intersection between environmental contamination and food access is where technology investment and food policy converge.
People Also Ask
Q: What is the STOMP program? A: STOMP (Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics) is a $144 million HHS/ARPA-H program announced April 2, 2026 to develop standardized tools for detecting and removing microplastics from the human body.
Q: Who is Mia Heller? A: Mia Heller is an 18-year-old from Virginia who won an ISEF award for a microplastic filtration system using ferrofluid and magnets, achieving 95.52% removal with 87% reusability at low cost.
Q: Are microplastics in the human body? A: Yes. Research has detected microplastics in human brain tissue, blood, and organs. The STOMP program aims to develop affordable, rapid testing to measure exposure across populations.
Q: How much does the STOMP microplastics test cost? A: The program targets development of a detection test costing less than $50 and taking under 15 minutes, making population-scale screening feasible for the first time.
Sources: