Australian Senate committee calls for national coordination on microplastics and toxics

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee has called on the Australian government to mandate the Australian Centre for Disease Control to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to monitoring the potential health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics and PFAS, with a view to developing a national strategy by 2028.

The recommendation is one of 12 made in the committee's report on the impact of microplastics, toxics and forever chemicals on human health, tabled on 26 May 2026.

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The inquiry was referred to the committee on 6 November 2025 to examine the potential actions, policies and investments needed to protect Australians from the potential harms of these substances, and heard from submitters including the Australian Centre for Disease Control, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme, the Australian Academy of Science and multiple university research centres.

Terms of reference

The committee's terms of reference covered reproductive health impacts, developmental effects in the first 1,000 days of life, cardiovascular impacts linked to microplastic accumulation in arterial plaque, links between endocrine disruptors and cancer and immune dysfunction, the adequacy of current research and measurement standards for microplastic contamination in Australia, and the potential benefits of a national standard for consumer products.

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Further recommendations

Among its other recommendations, the committee called on the government to enforce the existing PFAS ban in relation to cosmetics and personal care products, including period products, and for the Australian Centre for Disease Control to commission research to better understand exposure pathways to micro- and nanoplastics.

The report acknowledged ongoing knowledge gaps and limitations in research into the health impacts of these substances.