Millions of contaminated plastic beads, identified as biobeads or nurdles, have washed ashore on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex, prompting Southern Water to launch an investigation into what local MP Helena Dollimore has termed an “environmental catastrophe”. The plastic pollution poses a grave threat to marine life, with concerns that rare sea creatures, including seabirds, porpoises, and seals, could ingest the beads, leading to their death. Dollimore, the MP for Hastings and Rye, has strongly suggested that a local Southern Water treatment centre may be the source of the spill and has formally requested an explanation from the utility company's chief executive, Lawrence Gosden.

Camber Sands, renowned for its golden sands and rare dune habitats, is now a scene of extensive clean-up efforts. Volunteers, including members of the plastic pollution campaign group Strandliners, local residents, and Rother district council officers, are tirelessly working to remove the beads. Despite their efforts, filling dozens of bags with the plastic waste, the sheer scale of the spill makes it unlikely that all the beads will ever be removed. Andy Dinsdale of Strandliners described it as the "worst pollution event I have ever seen," noting that the contaminated plastic, once in the sea, will attract algae, smell like food, and be ingested by marine animals, causing irreparable harm.

The danger extends beyond marine life. The beads contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known carcinogens, along with other toxins such as lead, antimony, and bromine, making them dangerous even to domestic animals like dogs. MP Dollimore, who joined the clean-up, reiterated the urgency, stating that the huge number of beads "risks an environmental catastrophe" and that increased numbers of dead seals, fish, and porpoises are already being observed. She has urged Southern Water to dedicate all available resources to support the clean-up operation.

In response, a Southern Water spokesperson confirmed their collaboration with the Environment Agency and Rother district council to investigate the source of the plastic beads. The company is actively supporting the clean-up, which is being led by Rother district council using specialists with vehicle-mounted suction equipment. Southern Water also reported that water-quality sampling on the beach has shown no impact on environmental water quality, with this data shared with relevant authorities. An Environment Agency spokesperson confirmed their involvement, providing advice and guidance to Rother district council and working to identify the pollution's origin.