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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.
The objectives of the research was to assess the coastal pollution by plastic nurdles, pyrolitic debris, associated potential toxic elements (PTEs) concentrations and mitigatory efforts by the worst ever maritime accident of a chemical and plastic boarded container vessel; MV X-Press Pearl. Field sampling was carried out three times during May, June, and September 2021 at Sarakkuwa, Sri Lanka. Pellet pollution index (PPI) was determined to compare the degree of plastics pollution. Density separation (NaCl) followed by wet peroxide digestion for plastic separation and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, thermo gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetric analysis. Sand and plastics samples were digested and analyzed for PTEs (Li, Mo, Cr, Pb, and Cu), are suspect to mix during disaster. Identified debris were mostly confirmed as low-density polyethylene, epoxy resins, olefin copolymers, aromatic polyamides, natural rubber, and polyethylene terephthalate. Sulfur contamination and physical erosion were observed in nurdles received in June and September. Calculated PPIs were 'high' for Sarakkuwa beach even in September with a very high pellet pollution degree (10.24 pellets per m) compared to the control obtained from the same site in 2020 (1.6 pellets per m). Input sand for the blue treatment facility was found as the extremely contaminated with Mo and Li with 239.71 and 1.69 mg/kg respectively other than microplastics. Blue treatment facility seemed effective in physical separation of microplastics from sand, however, it is an exhausting process due to continuous receive of microplastics from the waves and excavation of sea shore.
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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.
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.
Cross-Shore Microplastic Accumulation on Sri Lanka’s West Coast One Year After the Catastrophic X-Press Pearl Pollution Event
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Researchers conducted a detailed survey of microplastic pellet contamination along Sri Lanka's west coast one year after the catastrophic X-Press Pearl container ship disaster, which released an estimated 50 billion plastic pellets. They found that pellets were still widely present in beach sediments, with some locations showing very high densities. The study demonstrates that a single marine pollution event can result in persistent, long-term microplastic contamination of coastal environments.
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.
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.
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