Texas Identified as Source of Nurdle Pollution on Mexico Beaches

According to a new study published in October 2025, Texas has been identified as the likely source for nurdle plastic pollution on beaches along the Texas and Mexico coastlines. The study, led by University of Texas Marine Science Institute graduate student Jordan Cisco, analyzed over 700 samples collected from areas spanning Houston to the Yucatan Peninsula between 2021 and 2024.

The researchers used chemical analysis and numerical modeling to determine the origin of the nurdles, which are small plastic pellets used as raw materials in manufacturing. The study found that the nurdles found in Texas were primarily fresh and white, while those collected in Mexico were more often yellow and weathered, indicating they had originated in Texas and been transported southward.

The Nurdle Patrol, a citizen science project founded in 2018 after a major spill impacted Corpus Christi beaches, has been tracking the nurdle pollution issue. Volunteers collect and count nurdles, which can clog the digestive systems of wildlife like birds and sea turtles. In 2019, a shrimper won a $50 million settlement against Formosa Plastics Corp. for plastic pellet pollution in Matagorda Bay.

While there have been attempts in recent Texas legislative sessions to pass new laws to mitigate the nurdle pollution problem, the measures have not yet been successful. Experts say the next step is to use this source-tracking research to inform cleanup strategies and prevent further plastic pollution from impacting the region's ecosystems.