These are "nurdles"
Nurdles, quite simply, are the building blocks of everything plastic. Your phone, your printer, your computer, everything plastic around you started as a nurdle. Unfortunately, the nurdles that never get into production are lost or discarded as waste or dumped overboard from ships delivering them to countries around the world.
These nurdles were spilled in a train accident in Pineville LA
Nurdles are plastic resin pellets classified as the primary source of microplastics. They range in size from 1 to 5 mm in diameter. There are more than 60 billion pounds of these plastic pellets manufactured in the U.S. every year (27 million tons).
So here's the problem: these nurdles float on water. When they get into rivers or the ocean, they're easily swallowed by sea turtles, sea birds, fish, crustaceans, etc.
So what can we do? First, be aware. The plastics all around us came from somewhere and they don't decompose in nature. Don't discard any plastics. Figure a way to dispose of your water bottles, phones, computers, batteries, whatever--properly.
Second, spend a few minutes the next time you're on a beach looking for nurdles. Collect them in a jar and make sure you dispose of them properly.
Third, if you're lucky enough to be near a beach during the first weeks of February 2021, take part in the
THE GREAT NURDLE HUNT
TACKLING WORLDWIDE NURDLE POLLUTION
TACKLING WORLDWIDE NURDLE POLLUTION
Check out www.nurdlepatrol.org
Did you know?
Plastics are a chemical cocktail. They contain contaminants from the fossil fuels or recycled products used to make plastic (non-intentionally added substances like heavy metals) as well as additives which are used to make plastics colorful, flexible and useable (additives such as dyes, phthalates and plastizers).
Studies of packaging alone found there could be thousands of additives used and 4-6 non-intentionally added substances for every additive.
Plastics are everywhere and should be treated very carefully and kept out of our environment
