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X‐Press Pearl Disaster
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This paper documents the environmental impact of the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster off Sri Lanka in 2021, which released 25 tonnes of nitric acid and contaminated the coast with plastic nurdles and burned plastic debris. The event caused extensive harm to coral reefs, beach ecosystems, and fisheries along the western Sri Lankan coast.
The MV X-Press Pearl disaster severely affected many sensitive coastal and marine environments and tourism areas in the Indian Ocean. The coastal and marine areas on the west coast of Sri Lanka were covered with tons of plastic nurdles and the remains of burned plastic in a very short time after the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. The vessel transported 1486 containers of mixed cargo, including 81 containers of dangerous goods. It included 25 tons of nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, methanol, 9700 tons of epoxy resins and other chemicals, and in particular, more than 1750 tons of plastic pellets (roughly 84 billion low-density polyethylene nurdles) and about 300 tons of fuel in its tanks. Large numbers of turtles, dolphins, and whales died due to hazardous chemicals, extreme heat, and oil spills. In addition, plastic nurdles can be degraded into microplastics under the influence of ultraviolet irradiation and abrasion against beach sand. Furthermore, heavy metals can be contaminated in beach sediments. These processes can thus cause the ingestion of microplastics and heavy metals in a wide range of marine organisms and may bioaccumulate in humans through seafood and salt. The X-Press Pearl disaster is considered the worst chemical and plastic-related marine disaster in Sri Lanka, and its impact has spread over a large area, including the coastlines of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Somalia. Therefore, the impact of the MV X-Press Pearl naval disaster will persist in the Indian Ocean environment for several centuries.
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Unprecedented marine microplastic contamination from the X-Press Pearl container vessel disaster
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Coastal pollution was assessed following the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster off Sri Lanka, which was described as the worst maritime accident involving chemicals and plastics and released massive quantities of plastic nurdles onto beaches. Field sampling documented extensive nurdle contamination and associated toxic element accumulation along the coastline.
Maritime disasters and pollution: X-Press Pearl maritime debacle.
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This paper reviews the marine pollution consequences of the X-Press Pearl shipping disaster, which released thousands of tons of plastic pellets and chemicals into Sri Lankan waters in 2021. The incident highlights how maritime accidents can cause sudden, large-scale microplastic contamination events and underscores the need for better prevention, response, and international coordination.
Maritime pollution in the Indian Ocean after the MV X-Press Pearl accident
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Researchers monitored maritime pollution along the west coast of Sri Lanka following the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster. They found widespread contamination of beaches with low-density polyethylene plastic nurdles, with chemical analysis revealing that the pellets begin altering their composition at temperatures as low as 60 degrees Celsius. The study documents significant microplastic generation from the degrading nurdles under UV irradiation and abrasion, along with heavy metal contamination including arsenic and cadmium.
Ship disaster threatened environmental security and dwindled down the spirit of maritime Sri Lanka
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Researchers examined the environmental and security consequences of the MV Xpress Pearl shipwreck off Sri Lanka's southwest coast, documenting the release of nitric acid, bunker fuel, lubricating oil, and plastic nurdles that contaminated coastal waters and beaches and caused mass mortality of endangered sea turtles, dolphins, and other marine organisms.
Plastics, Nurdles, and Pyrogenic Microplastics in the Coastal Marine Environment
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Researchers examined plastic nurdle pollution and pyrogenic microplastics in coastal marine environments, with a focus on the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship fire in Sri Lanka — the largest plastic-based maritime disaster from a single vessel in history, involving nearly 12,000 metric tonnes of plastic materials. The study documented the types and distribution of floating debris, nurdles, and fire-altered pyrogenic microplastics generated by the shipwreck along Sri Lankan coastlines.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.