21. Plastic Pellets (Nurdles)
Nurdles are tiny, round plastic pellets used as raw material in the manufacturing of countless plastic products.
Spilled during transport or at factories, they easily escape into waterways and oceans, where they’re often mistaken for fish eggs or food by marine life.
Nurdles are a significant contributor to microplastic pollution, making cleanup especially challenging.
For more on the global spread of nurdles, see this BBC report.