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Toxic Plastic Pellets Threaten Pets on UK Beaches
7 Nov
Summary
- Thousands of toxic plastic pellets, known as nurdles, have washed up on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex.
- Experts warn the pellets could poison animals that accidentally eat them, posing a serious risk to dogs.
- Rother District Council has issued an urgent alert, advising dog owners to keep their pets on a tight leash.
On 2025-11-07T18:26:28+00:00, an urgent warning was issued to dog walkers in East Sussex, UK, as thousands of potentially toxic plastic pellets have washed up on the shores of Camber Sands beach. The tiny pellets, known as nurdles or bio-beads, have covered the entire three-mile stretch of the beach, raising concerns about the safety of local wildlife and pets.
Experts have warned that the nurdles could pose a serious threat to animals that accidentally consume them, as the plastic can absorb toxic pollutants and chemicals while at sea. If ingested, the pellets could also cause potentially fatal blockages in dogs' digestive systems. In response, Rother District Council has advised dog owners to keep their pets on a tight leash and under close supervision while on the beach to prevent them from eating the nurdles.
While the council has stated that there are no known public health concerns, the scale of the plastic pollution on Camber Sands is described as "shocking" by the local clean-up group, Clean Jurassic Coast. The group says this is one of the worst microplastic spills they have ever seen, with millions of the tiny beads covering the sand and washing up with every wave. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but the small size and widespread distribution of the nurdles make it unlikely that all the plastic will be removed.
