A billion tiny pellets of plastic have washed up on North East coast beaches after a devastating ship collision, sparking fears for the long-term health of wildlife and humans alike. The incident occurred when the Wind Orca vessel crashed into another container ship at the Port of Tyne in South Shields on 19 July.
Nurdles – tiny, less than 5mm plastic pellets used as raw material for nearly all plastic products – have been appearing on beaches from Littlehaven to Sunderland and up to Northumberland. Environmental charity Fidra estimates that over a thousand tonnes of nurdles are lost in the UK annually from everyday plastic industry operations.
While the Environment Agency says there's no immediate risk to public health, experts warn of long-term dangers to wildlife. Heather McFarlane of Fidra explained how these tiny pellets can be mistaken for fish eggs by seabirds and fish, leading to starvation as animals feel full without eating actual food. Fulmars have been found with plastic in their stomachs.
Dr Geoff Abbott, a reader in organic geochemistry at Newcastle University, says most nurdles qualify as microplastics due to their size. Over time, they break down into even smaller particles, entering the marine food web and accumulating in fish – and subsequently, humans who eat contaminated seafood.
A key concern is the lack of specific UK regulation to prevent plastic pellet loss, unlike in the European Union. Fidra's Heather McFarlane suggests solutions such as filters in drains and sturdier packaging could reduce losses significantly. She advocates for making voluntary measures mandatory, ensuring plastics are packaged more securely on ships.