MP Calls for Immediate Ban on Toxic 'Biobeads' in Sewage Works Amid Devastating Camber Sands Spill.
In the wake of a catastrophic spill at an internationally important nature reserve, Labour MP Helena Dollimore is launching a campaign to ban the use of "biobeads" – tiny, toxic plastic beads used in sewage treatment works – nationwide. The devastating spill on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex last month left hundreds of millions of beads scattered across the shore and has alarmed local people and conservationists.
Scientists at Kings' College London tested the beads and found they contained heavy metals including lead and arsenic, posing a deadly threat to wildlife. The use of biobeads is an outdated technology that can be replaced by more modern methods using electric currents or ceramic/concrete surfaces, which are less harmful to the environment.
Dollimore's campaign comes as hundreds of millions of beads were washed up on Camber Sands beach, causing an environmental catastrophe. She said: "A month ago I wasn't aware that these plastic beads were used in local wastewater plants until 320m washed up on our beaches and nature reserve, causing an environmental catastrophe. The use of beads is an outdated technology and better modern methods exist. So why are water companies still using them in coastal plants – the very place they could do most damage? We're calling for them to bin the beads."
Wildlife experts warn that biobeads contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons linked to cancer, toxins including lead, antimony, and bromine, which can attract algae and poison sea creatures. The Sussex Wildlife Trust has been struggling to remove the beads from fragile habitats, including saltmarsh and shingle.
The Environment Agency is investigating Southern Water after the spillage, while the water minister, Emma Hardy, has written to water companies to find out the extent of their use of biobeads. Defra has also been contacted for comment on the matter.
In the wake of a catastrophic spill at an internationally important nature reserve, Labour MP Helena Dollimore is launching a campaign to ban the use of "biobeads" – tiny, toxic plastic beads used in sewage treatment works – nationwide. The devastating spill on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex last month left hundreds of millions of beads scattered across the shore and has alarmed local people and conservationists.
Scientists at Kings' College London tested the beads and found they contained heavy metals including lead and arsenic, posing a deadly threat to wildlife. The use of biobeads is an outdated technology that can be replaced by more modern methods using electric currents or ceramic/concrete surfaces, which are less harmful to the environment.
Dollimore's campaign comes as hundreds of millions of beads were washed up on Camber Sands beach, causing an environmental catastrophe. She said: "A month ago I wasn't aware that these plastic beads were used in local wastewater plants until 320m washed up on our beaches and nature reserve, causing an environmental catastrophe. The use of beads is an outdated technology and better modern methods exist. So why are water companies still using them in coastal plants – the very place they could do most damage? We're calling for them to bin the beads."
Wildlife experts warn that biobeads contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons linked to cancer, toxins including lead, antimony, and bromine, which can attract algae and poison sea creatures. The Sussex Wildlife Trust has been struggling to remove the beads from fragile habitats, including saltmarsh and shingle.
The Environment Agency is investigating Southern Water after the spillage, while the water minister, Emma Hardy, has written to water companies to find out the extent of their use of biobeads. Defra has also been contacted for comment on the matter.
ugh... cant believe ppl still r usin biobeads in sewage treatment 
thinkin they're harmless? not 1 single person seems to know that! 
dollimore's campaign is on point 
this is mental!! I mean, come on, who thought using plastic beads in sewage treatment was a good idea?! 
It's literally killing our wildlife and it's not like they're even necessary anymore! Electric currents or ceramic surfaces can replace them and it'll be so much better for the environment. The fact that water companies are still using this outdated tech is just lazy 
And honestly, it's not just about Camber Sands; this is a national issue that affects our entire coastline. We need more action, not just words 
. Dollimore's campaign is just the start – we need to keep pushing for change until those biobeads are gone for good 
. i'm all for Helena Dollimore's campaign – it's about time we got rid of these toxic little monsters from our water systems 
you know what's wild? i was at camber sands last year and it was so beautiful! but now i saw the pics of the beach after that spill... 
it's like, totally destroyed. i mean, those biobeads are everywhere! have you ever seen anything like that before? 
anyway, i'm all for a ban on those things. they're so last century. i read about how some water companies still use them even though there are better ways... it's just crazy. what do you think we can do to help clean up the mess? 
. And don't even get me started on the wildlife experts trying to clean this mess up... it's like they're fighting a losing battle 
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. We need to take responsibility for our actions and make some real changes. Southern Water needs to be held accountable for this mess 
. and to think that scientists have been warning us about the dangers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons linked to cancer, toxins like lead and antimony... its just too much 
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. we need to take action now before it's too late. water companies should be held accountable for the damage they're causing to our environment 
? its time for a change, and fast 
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. It's crazy that water companies are still using them in coastal plants, knowing how bad they can be for the environment 
.
anyway, kudos to MP Helena Dollimore for speaking out and launching a campaign to ban them nationwide 
It's like they're not even trying to protect our environment. The fact that scientists found lead and arsenic in them is seriously alarming 
. And it's crazy that some people still don't know they're using outdated tech in sewage treatment - it's like, hello! we have better ways now to do this 
. I mean, seriously, can't water companies see that biobeads contain lead, arsenic, and other nasty stuff that's linked to cancer and toxins?