The U.S. cotton industry has voiced its support for the recent report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which advocates for a multi-agency investigation into the health risks of microplastics in textiles and synthetic materials.
The MAHA report emphasizes the need for a joint research initiative involving the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On February 13, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that established the Make America Healthy Again Commission. This order directed the commission to prepare the “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment” for submission to the President through its chair and executive director.
The assessment was publicly released on May 22. Furthermore, the executive order requires that a strategy titled “Make Our Children Healthy Again,” based on the findings from the assessment, be submitted to the President.
Patrick Johnson, chairman of the National Cotton Council (NCC), stated: “With growing awareness of microplastics’ potential human health impacts, we thank President Trump and the MAHA Commission for their forward-thinking decision to investigate microplastics. As this topic is researched further, we are optimistic about the potential to further underscore the inherent benefits of natural fibers in the items in our daily lives, such as clothing and bedsheets.
The NCC has also praised the Trump administration for including agricultural stakeholders in the development of the report.
“We welcome the EPA’s collaboration with food and agricultural stakeholders to enhance confidence in the agency’s thorough review processes for crop protection products. We are ready to work alongside the White House and all federal agencies as they move to implement the commission’s report,” Johnson continued.
The council stressed that the pesticides currently in use undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety for farmers, consumers, and the environment. As the implications of the health risks of microplastics in textiles continue to unfold, the cotton industry remains committed to promoting natural fibers and addressing these emerging concerns.
