The beaches of Galicia and Asturias recently drew attention as thousands of plastic pellets washed ashore. The spill originated from one of six containers lost by the Toconao in Portuguese waters about 80 kilometers west of Viana do Castelo on December 8.
What are they?
Pellets, sometimes called, simply, pellets, are the raw material used to manufacture a wide range of plastic products. Data from the National Association of Plastic Industries (ANAIP) describe them as polymers that can be melted and shaped into finished items.
The common way to produce and distribute this raw material is in pellet form. There are various plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) among others.
These tiny spheres measure a few millimeters in diameter, though they are noticeable and larger than an average grain of sand according to the same source.
These plastic particles are often swallowed by marine animals. Efe noted that they can be ingested by wildlife, with birds and fish mistaken for food due to their small, egg-like shape.
Such ingestion can lead to stomach issues and even death, and the pellets can later enter the food chain. Over time, they are prone to break down into microplastics and may affect filter-feeding organisms, a concern raised by environmental groups who warn that these particles accumulate pollutants from the marine environment.
To prevent pellet leakage and maximize material use, the plastic sector launched the Operation Clean Sweep initiative, with Spanish industry participating in 2016 and receiving support from the Ministry of Ecological Transition since 2021. It is a voluntary program based on self-assessment by companies to identify points where pellet leakage may occur within facilities.
What are the risks of throwing it into the sea?
The small size of these plastics enables them to spread throughout the water column and become part of marine food webs. Greenpeace has warned that the pellets resemble tiny eggs, making them easy for birds and fish to swallow accidentally when mixed with food.
Ingestion can cause digestive problems in wildlife and sometimes be fatal. Over time, the pellets may become microplastics and disturb organisms that filter feed. Experts also caution that these particles can carry other pollutants, increasing harm as the situation persists.
The prosecutor’s office had previously warned about possible toxicity from the spill. In recent assessments, authorities noted signs of toxicity in materials washing ashore on the Galicia coast. The small white pellets reaching Galicia may pose long-term risks to the marine environment and potentially affect human health.
This Monday, authorities opened an investigation into the leak after first monitoring the incident on the 4th. The decree notes that the pellets are non-biodegradable and warns that they have already reached the shores of Portugal and France.
Xunta de Galicia argues that the materials are harmless to health, but experts consulted by this outlet report evidence suggesting otherwise. They advise using gloves and masks when collecting them.
The European Commission has stated that these small plastic particles do not biodegrade and cannot be eliminated, adding that they accumulate in animals, including fish and molluscs, and may therefore enter the human diet as well. Concerns about potential toxicity persist.
26.3 tons of plastic into the sea
The Toconao reportedly lost up to six containers in Portuguese waters, spilling 26.3 tons of plastic pellets, along with five other containers carrying tires and packaging materials. The shipload was described by Maersk as comprising about 1,050 bags of pellets weighing 25 kilos each, totaling 26,250 kilos of small plastic balls off the coast of Galicia.
The Toconao also lost five other containers with tomato paste, tires, aluminum rods, and rolls of packaging material, according to the Government Delegation in Galicia. Dozens of municipalities reported the impact of this microplastic discharge along beaches in Vigo, Pontevedra, Arousa, Muros, and Noia, as well as along the A Coruña and Ferrol coastline, where the sand appears washed white by the contamination.
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