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Tests carried out on seabirds after nurdle spill

Andy WatsonNorth East and Cumbria
BBC Lots of white tiny plastic pellets are on the surface of a beach. The sand is a brown colour and has a shoe print in it.BBC
Millions of plastic nurdles washed up on beaches following the ship collision

Research is being carried out to find out how a microplastic spillage has affected coastal sea bird populations.

On 19 July tonnes of microplastics known as nurdles were spilled into the River Tyne following a collision between ships at the Port of Tyne.

A series of necropsies are now taking place at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats on dead birds gathered after the spill.

Dan Turner, coordinator at North East England Beached Bird Surveys said: "We've already seen samples from contents of stomachs of suspected regurgitation which contain nurdles."

Necropsies will be carried out on a variation of seabirds gathered from across the North East including eight guillemots, five herring gulls, a gannet and a pink-footed goose.

A dead juvenile Guillemot, which has black and white feathers lies on a table at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats. It is being prepared for a necropsy by a man in a white lab coat with bright blue plastic gloves.
Necropsies are being carried out on seabirds to find out the impact of the nurdle spill

The research was prompted over concerns birds could "starve" if they confuse the nurdles for food and fill 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 added.

Charities like the RSPB have also warned the pellets could enter the wider food chain, affecting fish, seals and dolphins.

Dan Turner dressed in a white lab coatm with a navy blue checked shirt and a grey jumper. He looks at the camera in a laboratory, he has grey hair and a grey beard.
Dan Turner from the North East Bird Survey Group is carrying out the research

External and internal studies into the seabirds has started with stomach rinsing also taking place to see if the birds have been consuming the nurdles.

"It is quite possible that the seabirds have mistaken the plastic for fish eggs.

"The nurdles when they float attract pollutants and contaminants, which stick to them, if the birds swallow them it can be the case that they get into the bird's system.

"We may need more testing to see if the plastic can make its way into the bird's bloodstream which could cause a drop in the bird's fitness," Turner said.

Volunteers stand on South Tyneside Beach. They are equipped with a bucket, spade and sieve which have been used to sort through the sand to find nurdles which have been polluting the beach on South Tyneside.
Volunteers across North and South Tyneside continue to clean up the nurdles across the coast

Researchers have confirmed 28% of 18 tonnes of plastic nurdles which spilled into the river have been recovered since the spill.

Scientists predict that the plastic pellets will continue to wash up on North East beaches as the clean up continues.

Colin Porter who has been assisting the clean up in South Tyneside said: "We are very concerned about the wildlife populations, we've seen birds eating them and we know the fish have too."

The research on the birds is expected to continue into December.

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