Plastic nurdles found at 84% of UK sites of special scientific interest

Nurdles are tiny pellets that the plastics industry uses to make larger products. As many as 53bn a year may be lost into the environment in the UK. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

Plastic nurdles have been found in 84% of important nature sites surveyed in the UK.

Nurdles are tiny pellets that the plastics industry uses to make larger products. They were found in 168 of 195 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), so named because of the rare wildlife they harbour. They are given extra protections in an effort to protect them from pollution.