Plastic pellets contaminate New England shellfish and waterways

Lentil-sized plastic pellets, known as nurdles, have been found in estuaries, beaches, and the tissue of oysters and mussels along the New England coast. The pellets originate from manufacturing and transport of plastic resin and can travel via storm drains and rivers into marine habitats. Waterkeeper Alliance campaign manager Chelsea McDonald described the pollution as “a slow‑motion oil spill” that threatens seafood safety, public confidence and the livelihood of coastal communities.

Volunteers have documented more than one million nurdles in the region, prompting calls for tighter containment at industrial sites, ports and shipping routes. Advocacy groups are promoting the Plastic Pellet‑Free Waters Act, which would require the EPA to ban the release of pellets from facilities that make, pack or transport them. The presence of the particles in filter‑feeding shellfish raises concerns about the food web and potential health impacts for consumers.