Seabird Health Scrutinized After Port of Tyne Nurdle Spill

Researchers are conducting necropsies on dead seabirds following a significant spill of plastic nurdles into the River Tyne on July 19. The incident occurred at the Port of Tyne after a collision between two ships, releasing tons of microplastics.

Dan Turner, coordinator for North East England Beached Bird Surveys, stated that samples from birds have already shown evidence of regurgitation containing nurdles. Necropsies are being performed on a variety of seabirds collected from the North East coast, including guillemots, herring gulls, a gannet, and a pink-footed goose.

Concerns have been raised that the birds may starve if they ingest the nurdles, mistaking them for food and filling their stomachs. "We've seen evidence previously of fulmars eating plastic and they've been found in their stomachs, so it is highly likely we could come across the same in some cases," Turner said. There is also a possibility that the nurdles, which attract pollutants, could lead to contaminants entering the birds' systems and potentially their bloodstream, affecting their overall fitness.

Charities such as the RSPB have also warned that the nurdles could infiltrate the wider food chain, potentially impacting fish, seals, and dolphins. Researchers are examining the birds both externally and internally, and stomach rinsing is being conducted to identify any nurdle consumption.

Approximately 28% of the 18 tonnes of plastic nurdles spilled have been recovered, but scientists anticipate that more plastic pellets will continue to wash ashore on North East beaches as cleanup efforts persist. Volunteers are actively involved in collecting the nurdles from coastal areas.

The research into the effects of the nurdle spill on seabirds is expected to continue until December.