The research initiative focuses on the fallout of the River Tyne spillage, examining the contamination of coastlines, riverbeds, and local wildlife. At the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats, scientists have been performing necropsies on dead seabirds to monitor plastic ingestion. Although pellets have not yet been discovered directly inside bird stomachs, they were identified within regurgitated material. The year-long study will map the full dispersal of the pellets, with scientists planning a trip to Denmark to verify if recovered plastics traveled across the sea from the collision.
Key points
Researchers warn seabirds face potential starvation if they consume the pellets after mis…: Researchers warn seabirds face potential starvation if they consume the pellets after mistaking them for natural food sources.
The gradual environmental breakdown of the spilled microplastics threatens to disrupt the…: The gradual environmental breakdown of the spilled microplastics threatens to disrupt the broader marine food chain over time.
The public is being encouraged to assist the dispersal mapping effort by submitting photo…: The public is being encouraged to assist the dispersal mapping effort by submitting photographs of nurdles they find on coastlines.
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Research into the effects of a microplastic spillage on sea-birds and marine life will be carried out for the next year after funding was secured.
A team working across Tyneside is doing tests to discover the impact the pellets, known as nurdles, have on animals, birds and fish, as well as the overall spread.
Tonnes of microplastics were spilled into the River Tyne on 19 July following a collision between ships at the Port of Tyne.
North East England Beached Bird Surveys co-ordinator Dan Turner, who is leading the research on dead sea-birds, said: "This will be a long-term issue, securing the grant now gives us room to conduct more research not just in the North East but worldwide."
The research, which has been funded by The National Environment Research Council (NERC), will focus on the effects of the spillage on the River Tyne and at the coast.
Necropsies have been carried out on dead sea-birds at the Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, for the past six weeks. The current stage is focusing on stomach rinsing,…
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