Marine Pollution
Latest news, reports, and investigations on plastic waste, chemical contamination, and other pollutants harming marine ecosystems.
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Plastic Pellets Continue Polluting England’s Northeast Coast
Date
August 26, 2026
Source
UK Environment Agency
Brief
A maritime collision released tiny plastic pellets, known as nurdles, into the River Tyne estuary and surrounding beaches. Scientists are monitoring where the pellets travel and assessing risks to coastal habitats and wildlife.
Read the full article: Here
Record Amounts of Plastic Found in Seabird Chicks
Date
September 15, 2026
Source
Natural History Museum, London
Brief
Researchers reported record levels of plastic in sable shearwater chicks on a remote island, with one chick found to have ingested 894 plastic pieces. The findings highlight the scale of plastic exposure in marine birds.
Read the full article: Here
Plastic Pollution Discovered Fused to Coral Rubble in Japan
Date
September 18, 2026
Source
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Brief
Researchers identified plastic fused into coral rubble on beaches in Okinawa, Japan. The newly described material, called “plasticoral,” raises concerns about persistent plastic contamination in vulnerable reef environments.
Read the full article: Here
Plastic Makes Up Nearly 70% of Floating Waste Collected Off Spain’s Coast
Date
September 10, 2026
Source
SUR in English
Brief
Cleanup boats collected nearly 46 cubic metres of floating waste along Spain’s western Costa del Sol in August 2026. Plastic accounted for almost 70% of the collected debris, according to regional coastal waste figures.
Read the full article: Here
Rivers Deliver More Microplastics to the Ocean Than Expected
Date
September 18, 2026
Source
Nature
Brief
New research suggests rivers transport unexpectedly large amounts of microplastics into the sea. Heavy rainfall and inadequate waste management can cause major increases in the amount of plastic pollution carried downstream.
Read the full article: Here
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