New map shows around 36 facilities in Texas identified as possible micro plastic polluters due to accumulation of “nurdles”.

On a humid July afternoon, about 40 minutes from Houston, families enjoy Sylvan Beach, but plastics dominate the sand. Bottles, bags, and wrappers are scattered, and small white pellets, mistaken for shells, are actually hard plastic pellets known as nurdles. These nurdles, which absorb toxins and break down into microplastics, are produced by over 140 U.S. facilities, including 36 in Texas.

Recent reports from Environment America and Public Interest Research Group reveal that nurdles and other pre-production plastics are prevalent near oil and petrochemical plants. Luke Metzger of Environment Texas warns that these tiny pellets threaten wildlife and urges regulation to prevent pollution.

Data from the U.S. EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory identifies 141 U.S. facilities producing these plastics, with nearly a quarter located on Texas’ coastline. Nurdle Hunt estimates 491,000 tons of nurdles enter the environment yearly, with over 242,000 tons reaching the ocean. Regulating nurdles could help curb this pollution crisis.