“There have been three containers of plastic pellets onboard the ship, each weighing 26,000 metric tonnes (MT). The plastic pellets have to further break down to be considered microplastics,” said MEPA officials speaking to The Morning yesterday (27). “Plastic pellets are a type of primary microplastics. Gunawardana further said that once the plastic pellets are in any waterway, they absorb any harmful chemicals like sponges and thus become more toxic. The MV X-Press Pearl came to Sri Lankan waters on 20 May, which was when a fire was reportedonboard the ship.

Source: The Nation May 27, 2021 18:56 UTC