Fidra

As final negotiations for a #plasticstreaty begin this week, make sure to read our latest blog, covering why plastic pellets must be addressed by an strong final treaty, how this can be done in the treaty text & more➡️ www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/news/inc5-2-...

#INC52 #plastic #plasticpollution

The Independent Water Commission's latest report acknowledged the risks that we are facing from PFAS and calls on the UK Government to take action.

'Forever chemicals' are accumulating in our waterways and drinking water, risking human and environmental health. 🚰🌊

❗️Deregulatory proposals to UK chemical safety laws

Current statutory requirements that help protect people and wildlife from harmful chemicals would be removed, without introducing equivalent safeguards.

Read more ➡️ buff.ly/yok2x8O

📢Final negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty begin next week. A strong final treaty must effectively address global plastic pellet pollution🌍

📄Find info & resources on plastic pellets & how they can be addressed in the treaty text➡️ hub.nurdlehunt.org/solutions/un...

#plasticstreaty #INC52

Ask your council to end the use of urban pesticides Get involved!

New research: over half of UK councils are spraying pesticides in public spaces - 354 tonnes in 2024 alone.

That's 23 doubledecker buses worth of pesticides contaminating our environment with harmful chemicals such as PFAS...
www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-fr...

YouTube video by Pesticide Action Network PAN Europe TFA - The toxic threat to our water

🚨 Watch PFAS experts sound the alarm over TFA, a persistent PFAS polluting our water, food & blood.

TFA pollution lasts for decades. Without urgent action to restrict PFAS pesticides, our clean water supplies are at serious risk. 💧

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPuN...

@paneurope.bsky.social

BBC uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka Scientists warn the damage to the environment after the 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster could be much more enduring.

4 years on, the aftermath of the X-Press Pearl disaster continues to impact Sri Lanka. New research indicates #nurdles from the disaster are continuing to accumulate harmful pollutants & becoming increasingly toxic👉 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#plastic #plasticpollution #plasticstreaty

🚨 The Independent Water Commission warns that outdated sludge rules leave PFAS, microplastics & other contaminants unregulated, risking health, environment & supply chains.

It calls for a long-term sludge strategy to tackle these growing threats.

YouTube video by Fidra Stories of nurdle pollution series - The Pearl Protectors, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered the shipping company behind the X-Press Pearl disaster to pay $1 billion in damages.

4 years on the country is still feeling the effects of this environmental disaster.

Read more ▶️ economynext.com/sri-lankas-t...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwpr...

The Environmental Audit Committee’s PFAS inquiry: what experts told MPs about forever chemicals - PFAS Why Fidra and other experts told MPs that a universal restriction on PFAS is the only way forward in the UK.

Latest from Parliament's PFAS inquiry: Fidra and other experts told MPs why 'forever chemicals' need stronger regulation in the UK. 🚫

The evidence keeps mounting – read why we told the Environmental Audit Committee we need a universal PFAS restriction👇

www.pfasfree.org.uk/uncategorise...

Today’s column from @georgemonbiot.bsky.social has rightly put a spotlight on HSE proposals that would deregulate UK chemical safety laws, weaken protections for our health & environment, and increase UK-EU divergence.
 
For further information and to access the public consultation: buff.ly/xh8XV5E

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Information on serum levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for people aged 12 years and over

A national health survey in Australia has found that over 95% of people have two toxic #PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) in their blood.

These chemicals are banned under the Stockholm convention, but exposure continues.

Governments must do more to protect us from #PFAS 🔽

www.abs.gov.au/articles/per...

💻Get up to speeds with everything you need to know about #plasticpellets, #microplastics and #theglobalplasticstreaty ahead of the last round of negotiations in Geneva in a couple of weeks time!

Watch our new webinar recording ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=O70x...

Plastic spills threaten Sri Lanka and India as Asia rules polymer trade Production cuts needed to protect vulnerable species, fisheries, tourism and communities

Already in 2025, two catastrophic #pelletspills have occurred around the world 🌏

We need a #globalplasticstreaty with strong production reduction targets & countries must implement mandatory measures to stop pellet loss throughout the supply chain ⬇️

asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/En...

Starting in half an hour, join us for our webinar on plastic pellets and the global plastics treaty 🔽

Don’t miss out — there’s still time to register for our webinar happening tomorrow! 💻

Join us & leading experts as we discuss the upcoming Global Plastics Treaty (INC 5.2) negotiations and how the treaty can tackle #plasticpellets

Register now ➡️ us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Toxic Pfas above proposed safety limits in almost all English waters tested Exclusive: 110 of 117 bodies of water tested by Environment Agency would fail standards, with levels in fish 322 times the planned limit

- PFAS forever chemicals above proposed safety limits in nearly all English rivers, lakes & ponds, study finds
- levels of internationally banned PFOS in fish were 322 times above proposed safety limits on average

Our new article out now:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

🚨Today we launch our proposal for how the UK can take urgent action on PFAS.

The message is clear👉 Align with the EU’s universal PFAS restriction to protect health, our environment & economy.

A PFAS-Free UK is within reach.

Read the full proposal 👉 www.fidra.org.uk/download/reg...

Denmark has banned 23 pesticides because of their links to #TFA

TFA is a mobile, persistent #PFAS that forms from PFAS pesticides🌱

Our study found 98% of river sites in the UK contain TFA

Denmark's press release➡️ shorturl.at/E847i
Our study ➡️ www.pfasfree.org.uk/uncategorise...

Huge win for health and environment as the UK agrees to align with the EU on pesticide regulation.  - Fidra Reset discussions between the UK and EU have resulted in a massive win for pesticide regulation and our environment as the UK has committed to ‘dynamically align’ with the EU on pesticides.

BLOG: The UK agrees to align with the EU on pesticide regulation! 🐝

This environmental win showcases the benefits of dynamic alignment with the EU, a decision Fidra would like to see applied to all UK chemical regulations.

📖 www.fidra.org.uk/news/pestici...

Millions of tonnes of toxic sewage sludge spread on UK farmland every year Exclusive: Experts call for stricter regulation as current rules set in 1989 require testing for only a few heavy metals

An investigation by @watershed-i.bsky.social found 73% of sewage sludge 'sites' were within NVZs - nitrate vulnerable zones - already at risk from agricultural pollution.

We must protect our soils from the unregulated contaminants in sewage sludge.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘A Trojan horse’: how toxic sewage sludge became a threat to the future of British farming Sludge used as fertiliser on farmland contains harmful chemicals that scientists suspect are entering food chain

“once you let industrial waste into your works, what comes out isn’t sewage sludge. It’s hazardous waste.”

Every year, 768,000 tonnes of sewage sludge is spread over 150,000 hectares of agricultural land in England. Our new article out now:

share.google/RYo82QYEgZiL...

‘Forever chemicals’ in school uniforms could be banned under proposed law Amendments to children’s wellbeing and schools bill call for ban on Pfas and synthetic fibres over health concerns

Last week, amendments to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill to ban PFAS in school uniforms were discussed, but sadly not taken forward ❌

We’re calling for urgent action to address PFAS in the UK.

Briefing▶️ www.fidra.org.uk/download/pfa...
Article▶️ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The rivers at risk of sparking a rise in superbugs New research reveals just how widespread antibacterial 'biocide' chemicals have become in UK rivers

New plans from HSE to weaken chemical regulation could increase contamination risks for UK rivers, food and products. 🧪

And harmful biocide chemicals have already been found in 95% of rivers by @wclnews.bsky.social & @theriverstrust.bsky.social 🚨

Find out more 👇
inews.co.uk/news/environ...

Assignment - Sri Lanka: The X-Press Pearl disaster - BBC Sounds How the sinking of a cargo ship in 2021 triggered an environmental crisis in Sri Lanka

Four years on & Sri Lanka are still suffering impacts from the X-press pearl ship incident. #nurdles are still being found in huge quantities - now worsened by another ship disaster in the region.

Listen to the BBC podcast to hear more: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

📷H Withanage

Plastic nurdles may sound harmless - but, when a spill of nurdles occurs, as in the X-Press Pearl disaster, or off the coast of East Yorkshire this year, these tiny pieces of plastic can absorb other pollutants, & are eaten by sea creatures who cannot digest them, as Dr Megson explains here:

🌍 Ahead of the final #PlasticsTreaty negotiations (INC-5.2), get up to speed on #plasticpellets!

Join our webinar to learn about:
💥 Treaty text on pellets
⚖️ Spill liability & remediation
📄 UN pellet classification push

Register now ➡️ us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

🌍 The #GreatGlobalNurdleHunt is BACK! 🌊

🗓️ Oct 1–31, 2025

With two major #nurdle spill events happening in the UK & India already this year, there’s never been a more urgent time to act. Help us track plastic pellet pollution worldwide. 💪

More info coming soon 🔜: nurdlehunt.org.uk/take-part/th...

Join Fidra at #WildSummitUK in September📣

It’s a day bringing together campaigners, politicians, businesses & more to push the action we need to protect more of our land & sea for nature🏞️

Tickets available now via wildsummituk.eventbrite.co.uk
@wclnews.bsky.social

🚨 Our new study revealed widespread TFA contamination in UK rivers — with some of the highest levels ever recorded compared to other studies from around the world 🌍

Read more ➡️ www.pfasfree.org.uk/uncategorise...

#PFAS #foreverchemicals #riverpollution #chemicalpollution