Nephros Positions Ultrafiltration Technology as a Solution to Emerging Microplastic Risk in Water

Nephros (Nasdaq:NEPH), a water technology company, highlighted its ultrafiltration as a solution for emerging microplastic and nanoplastic risks in drinking water.

Rhea-AI Summary

Nephros (Nasdaq:NEPH), a water technology company, highlighted its ultrafiltration as a solution for emerging microplastic and nanoplastic risks in drinking water.

The update follows the U.S. EPA’s April 2026 move to list microplastics as a priority contaminant group under draft CCL 6.

Argus Jun 16 session

+1.92% close to close Open Argus

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News Market Reaction – NEPH

On Jun 16, the day this news came out, NEPH closed 1.92% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jun 16 session.

Market Context

This announcement links Nephros’ ultrafiltration technology, with pore sizes as small as 5 nanometer...

Analysis

This announcement links Nephros’ ultrafiltration technology, with pore sizes as small as 5 nanometers, to emerging regulatory focus on microplastics and nanoplastics under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s draft CCL 6. Historically, the company reported growing revenue, including $5.2M in Q1 2026 and record $18.8M for 2025, while also expanding water-safety services and regional presence. Investors may watch how effectively Nephros converts this regulatory tailwind into sustained programmatic sales and broader market adoption.

Key Figures

Microplastic size range: 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters Nanoplastic size threshold: smaller than 1 micrometer Filter pore size: 5 nanometers +5 more

Microplastic size range

1 micrometer to 5 millimeters

Defined particle size range for microplastics

Nanoplastic size threshold

smaller than 1 micrometer

Defined particle size for nanoplastics

Filter pore size

5 nanometers

Nephros ultrafiltration pore size

Current price

$3.13

Pre-news trading level

Price change 24h

-6.29%

Move prior to or into this news

52-week high

$6.42

52-week range high

52-week low

$2.6629

52-week range low

Market cap

$36,260,864

Equity value before this news

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 07

5 events

1. May 07

   Q1 2026 earnings

   24h Move

   +9.0%

   Reported Q1 2026 revenue and net income growth with core programs up.

2. Apr 30

   Earnings call setup

   24h Move

   -1.6%

   Announced timing and access details for Q1 2026 results call.

3. Apr 16

   Regional expansion hire

   24h Move

   -5.0%

   Hired dedicated Greater New York sales leader for $25M opportunity.

4. Apr 01

   Water safety services

   24h Move

   -0.7%

   Expanded water-safety services with ASSE 12080-certified expertise.

5. Mar 12

   FY 2025 earnings

   24h Move

   -7.9%

   Reported record 2025 revenue and profitability with strong growth.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

microplastics, nanoplastics, ultrafiltration, safe drinking water act, +1 more

5 terms

microplastics technical

"Microplastics are plastic particles ranging in size from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters..."

Tiny pieces of plastic, often smaller than a grain of rice, that come from broken-down larger items or from products like synthetic clothing and personal-care items. They matter to investors because their presence can trigger stricter regulations, cleanup costs, product redesigns or reputational damage for manufacturers and retailers—like discovering sand in food—potentially affecting sales, liabilities and supply chains across multiple industries.

nanoplastics technical

"while nanoplastics are smaller than 1 micrometer. There is a growing body of scientific evidence..."

Nanoplastics are extremely small plastic particles—often thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand—that form when larger plastic breaks down or are intentionally made for some products; think of them as a fine plastic dust or mist. They matter to investors because mounting evidence about their environmental and health effects can trigger stricter regulation, cleanup costs, product recalls, shifts in consumer preference, or lawsuits that may affect companies across manufacturing, packaging, waste management, and consumer goods.

ultrafiltration technical

"Nephros’ ultrafiltration products are engineered with pore sizes as small as 5 nanometers..."

Ultrafiltration is a process that separates small particles and liquids from larger molecules or substances using a filter with tiny pores. It is often used in water treatment and medical applications to remove impurities or excess fluids. For investors, understanding ultrafiltration is important because innovations or changes in this technology can impact industries focused on clean water, healthcare, and filtration products.

safe drinking water act regulatory

"under the Safe Drinking Water Act's draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6)..."

A federal law that sets health-based standards and oversight for public drinking water, requiring water suppliers to test for contaminants and fix problems to keep water safe. Think of it as a building code for water systems: it forces regular inspections, fixes, and reporting so consumers aren’t exposed to harmful substances. Investors watch it because compliance, fines, infrastructure upgrades, or new standards can affect utility costs, municipal spending, and the value of companies tied to water services.

contaminant candidate list regulatory

"priority contaminant group under the Safe Drinking Water Act's draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6)..."

A contaminant candidate list is a watchlist of chemicals, microorganisms or other unwanted substances that regulators or manufacturers have flagged as potential risks in products, ingredients or production processes. Like a safety recall checklist, it matters to investors because items on the list can trigger extra testing, regulatory restrictions, production changes or recalls that raise costs, delay sales and hurt a company’s reputation and cash flow.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Follows U.S. EPA's April 2026 decision to include microplastics as a priority contaminant group under the Safe Drinking Water Act's draft Contaminant Candidate List

Company underscores relevance of advanced filtration in addressing one of the fastest-growing concerns in water quality

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nephros, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEPH), a leading water technology company providing filtration solutions to the medical and commercial markets, today highlighted the capability of its ultrafiltration technology to effectively capture microplastics and nanoplastics before they enter the water, reinforcing the Company’s position at the forefront of emerging water quality and safety challenges.

This announcement follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's April 2026 decision to include microplastics as a priority contaminant group under the Safe Drinking Water Act's draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6), a significant milestone that underscores growing regulatory attention to plastic particle contamination in drinking water.

Microplastics are plastic particles ranging in size from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters, while nanoplastics are smaller than 1 micrometer. There is a growing body of scientific evidence* that nanoplastics pose an even greater risk to human health than microplastics, however most filtration technologies are not designed to address both micro- and nano-plastics.

Nephros’ ultrafiltration products are engineered with pore sizes as small as 5 nanometers, well below the threshold for plastics, enabling size-based exclusion of particles that may pass through conventional filtration technologies. As a result, Nephros filters are also effective in physically retaining not only bacteria and viruses but also microplastics and nanoplastics.

“As regulatory and scientific attention shift to microplastics and nanoplastics, the need for proven, high-performance filtration solutions becomes increasingly urgent,” said Robert Banks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nephros. “Our ultrafiltration technology was designed to support contaminant retention at a level that is directly aligned with this emerging concern. We believe this capability further differentiates Nephros in both healthcare and broader water quality markets.”

Nephros views this trend as part of a broader evolution in water quality management, where customers are moving from reactive solutions to more proactive, precision-based approaches. Nephros’ ultrafiltration platform is well-positioned to support this transition, offering scalable solutions that address both known and emerging risks.

About Nephros
Nephros is committed to improving the human relationship with water through leading, accessible technology. We provide innovative water filtration products and services, along with water-quality education, as part of an integrated approach to water safety. Nephros products serve the needs of customers within healthcare and commercial markets, offering both proactive and emergency solutions for water management.

For more information about Nephros, please visit nephros.com.

* References:

• ¹ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 6 — Draft," Federal Register 91 FR 17186 (April 6, 2026). https://www.epa.gov/ccl/draft-contaminant-candidate-list-6-ccl-6
• ² Lamoree, M.H. et al., "Health impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure," Nature Medicine 31, 2873–2887 (2025). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03902-5
• ³ Li, R. et al., "Microplastics and nanoplastics in brain tumours and the healthy human brain," Nature Health (2026). https://www.nature.com/articles/s44360-026-00091-4
• ⁴ Ghiyamihoor, F. et al., "Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Brain: Mechanistic Plausibility, Translational Challenges, and Links to Neurological Disease Trends," Molecular Neurobiology 63, 598 (2026). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-026-05895-9
• ⁵ Pérez-López, A. et al., "Micro- and nanoplastics removal from water and solid matrices: Technologies, challenges, and future perspectives," Environmental Research 299:124295 (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41856237/
• ⁶ Ali, N. et al., "Microplastic and nanoplastic pollution and associated potential disease risks," The Lancet Planetary Health 9(12), 101390 (2025). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00268-2/fulltext

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding Nephros’ beliefs regarding the health risks posed by nanoplastic materials in drinking water, the ability of Nephros’ products to retain microplastics and nanoplastics, Nephros’ ability to successfully market its products to address the emerging risks posed by such contaminants, and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements that may be accompanied by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including Nephros’ ability to further develop its sales organization and realize increased revenues, the extent to which financial results based on emergency response sales can be outside Nephros’ control, U.S. tariff and trade policy, inflationary factors and other economic and competitive conditions, the availability of capital when needed, dependence on third-party manufacturers and researchers, and regulatory reforms. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Nephros’ reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, and Nephros does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements that it makes, except as may be required by law.

Investor Relations Contacts:
Kirin Smith, President
PCG Advisory, Inc.
(646) 823-8656
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

Robert Banks, CEO
Nephros, Inc.
(201) 343-5202 x110
robert.banks@nephros.com

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How is Nephros (NEPH) addressing microplastic and nanoplastic risks in water?

Nephros is promoting its ultrafiltration technology to capture microplastics and nanoplastics before they enter drinking water. According to Nephros, its filters use pore sizes down to 5 nanometers, enabling size-based exclusion of plastic particles that may bypass conventional filtration.

What did the EPA decide about microplastics in April 2026 and why is it relevant to NEPH?

In April 2026, the U.S. EPA added microplastics as a priority contaminant group under draft CCL 6. According to Nephros, this regulatory focus highlights rising concern about plastic particles in drinking water and supports demand for advanced filtration like its ultrafiltration technology.

What particle sizes can Nephros (NEPH) ultrafiltration filters retain?

Nephros ultrafiltration products are engineered with pore sizes as small as 5 nanometers. According to Nephros, this allows physical retention of bacteria, viruses, microplastics and nanoplastics, whose sizes range from under 1 micrometer to several millimeters in typical definitions.

Why does Nephros consider nanoplastics an important water quality concern?

Nephros cites a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting nanoplastics may pose greater health risks than microplastics. According to Nephros, most existing filtration technologies are not designed to handle both micro- and nano-plastics, making its ultrafiltration approach increasingly relevant for water quality management.

How does Nephros (NEPH) see market trends in water quality management?

Nephros views water quality management shifting from reactive measures to proactive, precision-based approaches. According to Nephros, its scalable ultrafiltration platform is positioned to support this trend by addressing both established contaminants and emerging risks like microplastics and nanoplastics in healthcare and commercial markets.