Hurdles with Nurdles: A Gulf-wide Citizen Science Project - Jace Tunnell

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Nurdles are raw plastic pellets that are the basis for all plastic products. When released into the environment, they can harm wildlife and absorb toxic chemicals. In September 2018, a large spill of nurdles occurred on a beach in Texas. A citizen science project was launched to track nurdle pollution by collecting samples from beaches and waterways. The data collected highlights the widespread presence of nurdles across the Gulf Coast region and the need for industry accountability to address this issue and protect wildlife and the next generation.

HURDLES WITH NURDLES
Jace Tunnell
Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve
October 17, 2019

WHAT IS A NURDLE?
„Nurdle – raw plastic
„Basis for everything plastic

IMPACTS
„Wildlife eat
„Absorb chemicals
„Aesthetics
„Human health
1992 EPA Report on Plastic Pellets
ARK turtle x-ray, September 2018

NURDLE SPILL ON BEACH
„September 28, 2018
„Nueces County, TX - Bob Hall Pier

ISSUES
„Beach maintenance
„High tides
„Driving on beach
„Wind blowing sand
„Similar with oil spill
„Time sensitive to clean up

Country State Shoreline Latitude Longitude Sample Date No. Nurdles
Minutes
Collecting
United States Texas Galveston Bay - Texas City Dike 29°23'23.01"N 94°53'8.15"W 7/16/2019 30,846 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - Texas City Dike 29°23'22.90"N 94°53'8.06"W 6/28/2019 19,239 10
United States Texas Lavaca Bay - Cox Creek and HWY 35 28°41'19.70"N 96°31'41.00"W 6/29/2019 16,500 10
United States Texas Lavaca Bay - Cox Creek and HWY 35 28°41'18.90"N 96°31'42.74"W 7/22/2019 16,233 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - Texas City Dike 29°23'22.92"N 94°53'8.18"W 8/6/2019 16,135 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - La Porte - Morgans Point 29°40'34.68"N 94°58'58.44"W 6/14/2019 7,290 10
United States Texas Buffalo Bayou Hidalgo Park 29°44'48.57"N 95°17'41.29"W 8/24/2019 4,950 10
United States Texas Lavaca Bay - Cox Creek at HWY 35 28°41'18.66"N 96°31'43.13"W 5/19/2019 4,000 10
United States Texas Lavaca Bay - Cox Creek at HWY 35 28°41'19.50"N 96°31'41.03"W 4/24/2019 3,540 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - Texas City Dike 29°23'22.90"N 94°53'8.61"W 12/12/2018 2,720 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay Lynchburg Ferry 29°45'40.18"N 95° 4'46.96"W 7/27/2019 1,970 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - Texas City Dike 29°23'24.12"N 94°53'4.62"W 4/26/2019 1,590 3
United States Texas Galveston Bay Lynchburg Ferry 29°45'39.95"N 95° 4'46.57"W 7/27/2019 1,275 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay Ship Channel - Monument Inn 29°45'40.18"N 95° 4'47.29"W 1/26/2019 1,199 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay - La Porte - Sylvan Beach 29°39'11.35"N 95° 0'32.70"W 12/20/2018 1,116 5
United States Texas Galveston Bay - San Jacinto Battleground State Park 29°45'14.43"N 95° 4'14.75"W 2/14/2019 1,108 5
United States Texas Lavaca Bay - Cox Creek at HWY 35 28°41'19.56"N 96°31'40.73"W 4/17/2019 1,000 10
United States Texas East Matagorda Peninsula - shell banks 28°38'21.23"N 95°52'16.89"W 1/27/2019 948 10
United States Texas Galveston Bay Sylvan Beach Park 29°39'10.06"N 95° 0'32.86"W 7/28/2019 529 10
United States Texas Matagorda Island - 15 miles north of access road 28°41'1.98"N 95°46'37.97"W 1/29/2019 471 10

LATEST STATS
„1,000 volunteers
„2,600 surveys
„1,200 sites
„20 partner organizations

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
„Follow the guidance of Operations Clean Sweep.
„Stricter stormwater permits.
„Develop data base to link nurdles to manufactures.
„Create chain of custody for nurdles being shipped.
„Quick accountability by plastic pellet industry.

THANK YOU!
All Citizen Scientists!
Katie Swanson
Jacob Augs
Dr. Lindsay Scheef
Dr. Zhanfei Liu
Dr. Kelly Dunning
Jace@utexas.edu

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