The lasting impact of nurdle spills at sea
The X-Press Pearl was an awful incident involving the complete loss of a new feeder container vessel. This vessel, launched in the year of its loss, did a round robin of container deliveries and drop offs feeding the hub from which it was based.
It loaded some containers that contained nitric acid. It appears these leaked, which caused the fire. Despite the efforts of the crew over several days and latterly the Sri Lankan port authorities, the firs spreads to other containers and eventually overcame the vessel. It was a total loss with all containers burning out and therefore their contents lost to the sea.
It has had a devastating effect, which is well explained in the article linked to this post.
Research conducted by Oracle Environmental and Socotec Uk in 2024 and now continuing this year have shown that nurdles do act as a magnet for other contaminants.
Where clusters of nurdles are found there is a local toxic effect which it is hoped that new research will establish how severe this is.
It will inform the Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) used in nurdle spill clean up operations as we learn more about the lasting effect those nurdles that remain can have on the surrounding environment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly8y5kmrllo