RFK Jr. Launches $144 Million Federal Program to Detect and Remove Microplastics From the Human Body
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. announced a $144 million STOMP program to detect and remove microplastics from the human body. An 18-year-old already built a filter that works.
RFK Jr. Launches $144 Million Federal Program to Detect and Remove Microplastics From the Human Body HHS Secretary RFK Jr. announced a $144 million STOMP program to detect and remove microplastics from the human body. An 18-year-old already built a filter that works. Aaron Rafferty April 03, 2026 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 ferrof