Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets on leads after “toxic” pellets washed up on British beaches.
The warning is a result of a pollution incident, which left plastic beads scattered across the East Sussex coastline.
Camber Sands is now peppered with large quantities of the pellets, known as “biobeads” or “nurdles”, which are feared to be toxic to animals.
Rother District Council issued an urgent alert, warning dog owners to keep their pets under close control.
Experts have warned that while the plastic nurdles do not contain toxic elements, they may pose a threat to animals by getting lodged in a dog’s stomach or intestines.
The pellets could lead to internal damage, such as severe internal injuries, ulcers, organ damage, or death if not treated quickly by a vet.
The local authority currently is currently investigating the source of the pollution.
Camber Sands has been peppered with large quantities of pellets
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It is believed the pollution may have started in the sea before drifting onto the beach with the tide.
The council is partnering with non-profit Nurdle, an organisation dedicated to microplastic removal.
Nurdle, alongside the council, began work in Camber Sands yesterday on the clean-up operation.
Tbe company uses specialist tools to clear microplastic from beaches, including industrial trommels, microplastic vacuums and custom-built extraction machines.
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Dog owners have been urged to keep their animals on lead
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ALAMYEarlier this year, nurdles washed ashore in Kerala, India after a Liberian-flagged container ship capsized 13 miles off the coast.
They also appeared in March on the Norfolk coast following a collision between Portuguese-flagged Solong, a container ship, and US-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate.
Officials in Norfolk were concerned about the threat to marine life the plastics posed.
They feared seabirds and fish would confuse the pellets with food.
An update from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk last month revealed that it had managed to clear the majority of the coastline of nurdles.
A council spokesman told The Sun: “Our officers are currently inspecting the shorelines to assess the level of impact across local beaches.
“We can then determine the scale of the incident and respond accordingly. We’re working closely with partner agencies to ensure a coordinated response to this environmental incident.”
They added that the public should give their staff space, to ensure “the removal work goes as quickly as possible.”