Fourteen states led by Republican attorneys general have requested that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increase scrutiny of at-home abortion drugs, specifically mifepristone, for potential contamination of wastewater. This request was outlined in a letter sent on June 6, 2026, which suggests that self-managed abortions could violate the Safe Drinking Water Act due to concerns about the drug contaminating drinking water.
The letter, signed by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and her colleagues, asks the EPA to add mifepristone to its Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). While chemicals on this list are not subject to legal maximum contaminant levels, they may be monitored or considered for regulation. The attorneys general argue that as the use of mifepristone increases, its inclusion on the CCL is necessary to investigate its impact on public health.
Mifepristone is used in approximately two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. and has gained attention since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. The letter also highlights concerns that the FDA's decision in 2023 to remove in-person screening requirements for obtaining mifepristone has led to a saturated market for abortion pills, even in states with strict anti-abortion laws.
The attorneys general expressed concerns that conventional wastewater treatment may not effectively remove contaminants from mifepristone, potentially leading to health risks for pregnant women who might unintentionally ingest the drug through the water supply. They noted that limited research exists regarding the environmental impact of mifepristone metabolites.
The letter follows the EPA's announcement of plans to add hundreds of medications to its CCL, including misoprostol, another drug used in medication abortions. Advocacy groups have been urging the FDA and EPA to conduct more rigorous studies on the environmental impact of abortion drugs, with some claiming that high levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals are present in drinking water due to at-home abortions.
