Mysterious black balls that appeared on popular beaches have been identified as “disgusting” clumps of human faeces, drugs and “permanent chemicals”.
University of New South Wales chemistry professor Jon Beves had the “extremely unpleasant” task of subjecting the balls, which first appeared on Sydney’s Coogee Beach on October 16, to analysis with shocking results.
His team discovered that the balls were ‘fatbergs’ or ‘FOG (fat, oil, grease) aggregates’, which could only form in a sewage system.
The findings ruled out Randwick City Council’s earlier conclusion that the clumps were “tar balls” created from an oil spill or ship leak.
In addition to human waste, cooking oils, diesel or fuel, and recreational drugs, such as THC and methamphetamine, were also found in the balls.
‘I always expected them to be like crude oil or… even heavy oil, it doesn’t smell that bad but this really smells disgusting. It smells more like what you would expect in a sewer. They are really disgusting,” Professor Beves told the Sydney Morning Herald.
PFAS chemicals, a type of plastic often referred to as “permanent chemicals,” were also discovered, but the types found differed from those at the center of discussions about drinking water safety.
Instead, the chemicals discovered were more closely aligned with those found in waterproof clothing.
Mysterious black balls (pictured) that washed up on Sydney beaches last month have been identified as “disgusting” clumps of human faeces, drugs and “permanent chemicals”.
The balls were discovered to be ‘fatbergs’ or ‘FOG – grease, oil, grease – aggregates’, which could only form in a sewage system.
Other items found in the balls included high blood pressure medications, contraceptives and steroids, all of which typically show up in sewer tests.
Professor Beves’ tests made his equipment unpopular on the UNSW campus due to its smelly nature.
Despite their efforts, questions remain about the origin of the balls.
“I don’t know if it’s coming from our local sewage system, or if it’s been discharged from a ship, or if it’s been washed from sewers into stormwater, or some other source that we don’t really know about,” he said. he told the alphabet.
However, evidence suggests that all the balls came from the same place as they had a similar composition.
“So it appears that they are not coming from many different places, but are consistent with them all coming from one place at the same time,” Professor Beves said.
The hitting was originally reported in Coogee, but spread to Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama and Maroubra beaches in the following days.
All affected beaches were immediately closed and Randwick Council launched a massive clean-up effort.
Other items found in the balls included high blood pressure medications, contraceptives and steroids, all of which typically show up in sewer tests.
Questions remain about the origin of the balls and possible suspects are local sewage systems or ships.
Their initial tests indicated that the balls were made of petroleum and posed a health hazard to bathers.
Sydney Water stated there were no problems with its deep ocean outfalls at Malabar, Bondi and North Head.
The systems discharge wastewater three kilometers from the coast and between 60 and 80 meters below the surface.
The Environmental Protection Authority hopes that final tests planned for the coming weeks will reveal the origin of the balls.
