Nurdles- A global plastic pollution problem!

What are nurdles?

A nurdle can be defined as a very small pellet of plastic that serves as the raw material in the manufacturing of plastic products.

What can be made from nurdles?

Nurdles are used to manufacture plastic bags, food wrappers, car parts, clothes, plastic bottles, and even artificial Christmas trees. One small plastic water bottle would require roughly 600 nurdles in its production process.

What are nurdles made from?

Nurdles are made from fossil fuels and harmful chemicals, including phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA), flame retardants, organotins, heavy metals, and PFAS. These toxic chemicals leach into the environment and can enter the food chain. Roughly 400,000 tonnes of nurdles enter our environment yearly.

Why are nurdles a problem in our environment?

These small pellets (less than 5mm in size- similar to a lentil in size) are causing a big problem. Nurdles are washing up on beaches across the world by the millions. Unfortunately, a large number of fish and sea birds are eating them, thinking they are food, possibly fish eggs. Plastic nurdles can become trapped in these marine animals' stomachs, making them feel full and stopping them from eating real food. This can lead to starvation, ulceration, organ damage, and the eventual death of the poor creatures.

How do nurdles get into our oceans?

Pellets can leak out of damaged packaging and containers on board ships, as well as being spilled in large quantities in disaster situations. In 2021, the largest recorded nurdle spill at sea occurred. The shipwreck of X-Press Pearl, saw 1680 tonnes of nurdles spilled into the Indian Ocean and onto the shores of Sri Lanka. Some of these spilled nurdles were found in sea turtles, dolphins, and whales that washed up dead on the Sri Lankan coastline. Nurdles are most commonly found on beaches as well as in rivers and streams. They can be found between rocks or in seaweed or found as debris on the sand.

Have nurdles been found along the South African coastline?

There was a huge nurdle spill in the Durban harbour on 10th October 2017. 49 tons of the pellets ended up in the ocean after two containers were washed off a ship in the port during a severe storm. These nurdles continue washing up along the South African coastline, even reaching as far as Australia and the USA.

What are the risks for humans?

Workers exposed to toxic plastic fibers can have lung problems, with reduced lung capacity, possibly caused by inflammation damage. Chemicals that make up these plastics are toxic to humans at high enough concentrations. These harmful chemical substances can also build up in the food chain and enter our bodies through the seafood and fish we consume, causing a variety of health problems. In 2020, microplastics were found in human organs and babies. Two years later, they were detected in human blood for the first time.

How can we reduce the amount of hazardous nurdles in our environment?

We urgently need to regulate the nurdle plastic industry. Stricter and more careful handling of hazardous nurdles in factories and the transportation process is required to prevent leaks or spills. In this way, companies can be held responsible for negligence if spills occur. Careful handling by the industry can prevent spills. Each citizen can help by reducing their plastic consumption in as many ways as possible.

Tips for reducing your plastic consumption

1. Avoid single-use plastics such as plastic drinking straws

2. Use a material shopping bag when you go shopping instead of the plastic bags on offer

3. Buy food in bulk and fewer packaged products

4. Cook more instead of buying takeaways and the disposable containers that come with fast food

5. Plastic Tupperware can be replaced with glass or steel containers

6. Recycle as much as possible

7. Purchase secondhand plastic products wherever possible instead of new ones
   

A Wise Owl Lifestyle Quote from Leonardo DiCaprio, a well-known actor and environmental activist: “Plastic pollution is a global issue, killing wildlife, contaminating our oceans and waters, and lasting for longer than it is used.”

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