Are they fur balls?, or stress balls or are they overly ripe blueberries, nope this one will have you in stitches, and you can decide if it’s more disgusting than humourous.
On November 8th, mysterious black balls that washed up on the beaches in Sydney, Australia had the New South Wales environmental officials in a frenzy. The balls made their first appearance on Bondi Beach on the 16th October, and similar balls were discovered on other city beaches in the days that followed.
The balls were initially suspected to be tar balls, but closer inspection revealed, wait for it!, these balls were miniature fatbergs, containing, cooking oil, soap scum, industrial chemicals, drug residue, hair and human feces. “They smell absolutely disgusting, they smell worse than anything you’ve ever smelt,” lead investigator Associate Professor Jon Beves told 9News.
Other substances like human fecal waste and recreational drugs, including THC and methamphetamine were also found. “The black balls found at Coogee Beach have high concentrations of fatty acids, glycerides and calcium, similar to FOG deposits,” Analytical Chemist Professor William Alexander Donald said.
“I wouldn’t want to be swimming with them,” he further added.
The balls were washed ashore in Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Bondi, Bronte, Congong, Frenchmans, Little Bay, Malabar and Tamarama beaches. While the source of the waste is yet to be identified, there is a very likely chance of more appearing. So while the source of the black balls could point to sewages, Sydney Water said officials are not aware of any issues with the city’s wastewater and The New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority is continuing to investigate.
It seems Sydney’s beaches have really gone to the “potty.” Let’s hope they can get to the “bottom” of this mystery soon!
