To the editors,
I am writing to call your attention to a serious error in a story published by DeSmog [“Pollution Scientist Calls Plastic Pellet Spill in the Mississippi River ‘a Nurdle Apocalypse’”, 8/28/20]. The article in question cites ‘concerns’ of vinyl chloride monomer contamination. The article wrongly asserts that:
“. . . though vinyl chloride isn't listed on the Dow bag as one of the ingredients in these nurdles, she says such plastic pellets often contain trace amounts of this industrial chemical . . . ”
As the article notes in the fourth paragraph, the pellets in question are made of polyethylene. Vinyl chloride is not used in the manufacture of polyethylene. Therefore, there is no basis for Ms. Subra to speculate that this spill of polyethylene pellets poses any risk of vinyl chloride contamination. It is simply impossible.
We insist that this error be corrected. We recommend that the entire paragraph be removed from the post and that a correction be appended to the end of the story so that your readers are not further misled.