SUFB 1243: What is a nurdle and how is it affecting the ocean?

In May 2021, a container ship called the X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka spilling large amounts of toxic chemicals in the form of fuel and a high concentration of microplastic pellets, called nurdles. 

These nurdles can wreak havoc on ocean habitats as they are made from fossil fuel chemicals and break down once in the water. The nurdles are ingested by sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds, and fish where they can cause choking and/or leech chemicals into the animals' bodies. The spill of nurdles has also caused 20,000 fishers to stop fishing in Sri Lanka. 

The X-Press Pearl spill is a current example that nurdles need to be classified as hazardous materials. Unfortunately, the International Maritime Organization put off addressing the issue until next year opening the way for more spills to occur over the next year. 

Over 230,000 tons of nurdles enter the ocean every year. 

Link to article: https://grist.org/health/nurdles-the-worst-toxic-waste-youve-probably-never-heard-of/

Join the Plastic Pollution Coalition: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/the-coalition/

Petition against nurdles: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/982/791/665/

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