A recent survey has revealed that tiny plastic pellets, known as nurdles, have been found at 84% of UK Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) — areas legally protected for their rare wildlife and habitats. Out of 195 sites sampled, 168 showed signs of contamination.

Even six national parks — including the New Forest, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, and the Pembrokeshire Coast — were among the affected areas.

🧪 What Are Nurdles — And What’s the Risk?

Nurdles are small plastic pellets used globally as raw material in plastic manufacturing. Because of their size and shape, they can easily spill during transport or handling. Once released, they travel widely — ultimately contaminating soil, waterways, beaches, and even protected natural habitats.

Once in the environment, nurdles pose a serious threat. Wildlife — from birds to fish and small mammals — can mistake them for food. Ingested plastics can cause internal damage or build up toxins over time. Nurdles can also break down into microplastics, spreading contamination further and affecting entire ecosystems.

📉 Survey Findings — Scale of Pollution

• The survey covered 195 SSSIs across the UK — the largest such assessment to date.
• Of these, 168 sites showed evidence of nurdle contamination. That includes six national parks previously thought to be pristine.
• Experts estimate that up to 53 billion nurdles may be lost into the environment annually across the UK due to spills during plastic production and transport.

⚠️ Why This Matters — Biodiversity & Beyond

The widespread contamination demonstrates how fragile even protected areas have become in the face of unregulated plastic pollution. Researchers warn that if left unchecked, nurdle pollution could undermine decades of conservation work. Birds, marine life, and small mammals all risk poisoning, starvation or reproductive harm.

Moreover, nurdles don’t just harm wildlife — they threaten water quality, soil health, and even human food chains when microplastics enter fish or shellfish consumed by people.

🛠️ What Campaigners Are Demanding

In response to the findings, environmental groups urge tighter regulation of plastic pellet transport, improved mandatory storage safeguards, and stricter oversight of plastic-production facilities.

They call on governments — and the global regulatory body for shipping and maritime transport — to treat nurdle spills with the same urgency as oil spills, to prevent further environmental damage.

🌱 A Growing Call for National Monitoring

Researchers say the findings highlight the need for a nationwide nurdle-tracking and cleanup programme. At present, most data is gathered by volunteers and small conservation groups, making it hard to measure long-term trends. Scientists argue that consistent national monitoring would help identify hotspots, track seasonal changes, and support targeted cleanup work. They believe coordinated action could prevent nurdles from accumulating further and protect already-vulnerable habitats across the UK.