Weeks after slimy black balls washed up on Sydney, Australia’s famous beaches, scientists say they have partially solved the mystery behind the “disgusting” blobs.
The golf ball-sized pieces were initially thought to be tar balls, but turned out to be much different – a combination of decomposed cooking oil, hair and food waste, the New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Wednesday.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement that an investigation by scientists from the Australian government and the University of New South Wales showed that the black balls “may have come from a source releasing mixed waste.”
“Authorities have considered several possible causes, such as transport leaks or wastewater outflows,” it said.
The exact origin has not been determined due to “the complex composition of the balls and the time they spent in the water,” the statement said. “But the final results will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Since mid-October, thousands of black balls have been discovered on several Sydney beaches, including the famous Bondi Beach, leading to beach closures along the city’s coast.
At the time, authorities advised people not to approach or touch the debris. Preliminary test results indicate the spots are tar balls that form when oil comes into contact with debris and water, they said.
However, further investigation disproved this theory.
William Alexander Donald, a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, who was involved in the study, said: “We found a lot more – this doesn’t sound very scientific – but we found a lot more than we’ve found before. Much more disgusting than you can imagine.
While initial tests suggested the spots were caused by crude oil or natural oils seeping from the seafloor, further analysis revealed large amounts of “fatty, greasy” molecules typical of used cooking oil and soap scum. , as well as traces of recreational drugs, Donald told NBC News.
“When we tested it, these balls smelled worse than anything you’ve ever smelled — at least to me, worse than anything I’ve ever smelled before,” Donald said. “All signs point to that.” The balls could be human waste.
“This was a very complex analytical challenge, and we detected hundreds of different molecules and components in these spots,” he said.
It will be interesting to track how often this debris occurs and whether scientists can trace it back to the exact source, Donald said, noting that his team has received some unconfirmed reports of similar debris washing ashore in the past. Southeast Victoria.
Sydney Water confirmed there were no issues with the Bondi or Malabar water facilities, while Maritime Transport NSW reviewed recent weather patterns but found no clear answer, the statement said.
