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Tiny plastic pellets, known as ‘nurdles’, have been found in large numbers along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on May 27, 2025, raising significant concerns about marine pollution in the aftermath of the sinking of the MSC ELSA 3.
The pellets have been found in the Kochu Veli, Thumba, and Vettukad regions. Experts suspect that some containers carrying these highly polluting pellets may have crashed near the Thiruvananthapuram shore after drifting for an extended period.
On May 25, the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 sank approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala between the ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 640 containers, which included 13 containing hazardous materials like calcium carbide, as well as 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. While all 24 crew members were safely rescued, the incident has raised significant environmental concerns.
“In the aftermath of the sinking, approximately 100 containers have washed ashore, reaching as far south as Thiruvananthapuram. Among various items such as tea and textiles, a more concerning substance was discovered on Kochu Veli Beach and surrounding coastal areas — plastic pellets, known as nurdles. This incident marks the first significant occurrence of plastic nurdle landings in India caused by a shipwreck,” confirmed A Biju Kumar of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries at the University of Kerala.
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) defines pellets in ISO 472:2013 as “small pre-formed masses of moulding material that have relatively uniform dimensions within a specific batch. These pellets are utilised as raw material in moulding and extrusion operations”. When in the form of microplastics, these pellets are commonly referred to as ‘nurdles’ and serve as the foundational material for manufacturing a wide range of plastic products.
Plastic pellets are considered primary microplastics because they are intentionally produced in small sizes, usually ranging from 1 to 5 millimetres in diameter. These pellets are melted and moulded into various products, including packaging, water bottles, toys, and textiles.
“While plastic pellets are not inherently toxic, their small size, buoyancy, and resemblance to fish eggs make them an invisible and hazardous pollutant once they enter the ocean,” said Bijukumar.
Microplastic nurdles are mainly composed of polyethene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. However, they can also be made from various other types of plastics and synthetic resins. These materials are selected for their versatility and the ease with which they can be processed into a wide array of plastic products.
Each year, millions of tonnes of nurdles are transported globally, making them a key—but risky—part of the international plastic supply chain.
Plastic nurdle spills have gained attention in several notable incidents. These include the spill in Hong Kong in 2012, when Typhoon Vicente caused nurdles to spill from containers, leading to weeks of contamination on local beaches. In 2017, a container spill at Durban Port in South Africa released 49 tonnes of nurdles into the Indian Ocean.
Every spill caused catastrophic damage, harming marine wildlife, including dolphins, turtles, and fish, while severely impacting coastal communities that rely on fishing and tourism.
The pellets found in Kochu Veli are primarily composed of two types of polyethene: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethene) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethene). These are the most commonly used plastics in the world.
LDPE is typically used in the manufacturing of products such as plastic bags and films (including grocery bags and food wraps), squeeze bottles, flexible tubing, and coatings for paper cartons and cables. On the other hand, HDPE is commonly used for items like milk jugs, detergent bottles, hard plastic containers, pipes, crates, and playground equipment.
Recycling LDPE can be quite challenging, said Bijukumar.
Every year, an estimated 230,000 tonnes of nurdles are released into the ocean worldwide. Their small size and buoyant nature enable them to travel long distances, and they are often mistaken for food by seabirds, fish, and other marine animals. Due to their size and tendency to mix with sand and debris, nurdles are extremely difficult to clean up, making them one of the most widespread and challenging forms of marine plastic pollution.
“Nurdles resemble fish eggs and can be easily consumed by fish, turtles, and seabirds, resulting in intestinal blockages and starvation. These small plastic pellets can accumulate in sand and estuaries. Nurdles can absorb pollutants such as PCBs, PAHs, and DDT from seawater, turning them into toxic pellets. Over time, nurdles break down into micro- and nano-plastics, which can enter food chains and potentially end up in human diets,” pointed out Bijukumar.
Experts recommend conducting manual beach cleanups, which are time-consuming but effective when performed quickly. They also suggest using floating booms and nets near spill sites to contain nurdles before they disperse, as well as specialised sifting tools to collect nurdles from the sand.
The most effective preventive measures include improved packaging, such as securing containers and double-lining during maritime transport, rapid response teams, spill drills at ports, regulations that require the reporting of nurdle spills, and industry best practices.
“This latest incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with plastic waste, especially as it accumulates in delicate ecosystems. As plastic production continues to increase, the challenge of preventing such spills—and cleaning up after them—remains a pressing concern for environmentalists and policymakers. We are particularly concerned about nurdles washing up along the southern coast of Kerala, an area rich in marine biodiversity. These pellets pose a significant threat to marine life,” said K V Thomas, a former head of the Marine Sciences Division at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies.