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| 'Tar ball' mystery: Sydney identifies objects that shut beaches | |
| (4 months later) | |
| The black objects were first spotted by lifeguards at Coogee Beach on 16 October | The black objects were first spotted by lifeguards at Coogee Beach on 16 October |
| Australian scientists have solved a mystery which has gripped Sydney: what were the sticky dark blobs which washed up on some of the city's famed beaches last month? | Australian scientists have solved a mystery which has gripped Sydney: what were the sticky dark blobs which washed up on some of the city's famed beaches last month? |
| Initially believed to be tar balls, they were in fact a "disgusting" combination of human faeces, cooking oil, chemicals and illicit drugs, researchers say. | Initially believed to be tar balls, they were in fact a "disgusting" combination of human faeces, cooking oil, chemicals and illicit drugs, researchers say. |
| Eight beaches including Bondi were closed for several days and a massive clean-up ordered after thousands of the black deposits started appearing from 16 October. | Eight beaches including Bondi were closed for several days and a massive clean-up ordered after thousands of the black deposits started appearing from 16 October. |
| Testing by chemists has determined the balls were most likely the result of a sewage spill, though their exact origin remains unknown. | Testing by chemists has determined the balls were most likely the result of a sewage spill, though their exact origin remains unknown. |
| Last month authorities in New South Wales (NSW) said they suspected the objects were a mixture of fatty acids, fuel oil and chemicals found in cleaning and cosmetic products. | Last month authorities in New South Wales (NSW) said they suspected the objects were a mixture of fatty acids, fuel oil and chemicals found in cleaning and cosmetic products. |
| But further testing found the material is unlikely to have originated solely from an oil spill or waste from a ship, as some had thought. | But further testing found the material is unlikely to have originated solely from an oil spill or waste from a ship, as some had thought. |
| Each ball was slightly different but had a firm surface - hardened partially by accumulating sand and minerals like calcium - and a soft core. | Each ball was slightly different but had a firm surface - hardened partially by accumulating sand and minerals like calcium - and a soft core. |
| Inside was everything from cooking oil and soap scum molecules, to blood pressure medication, pesticides, hair, methamphetamine and veterinary drugs. | Inside was everything from cooking oil and soap scum molecules, to blood pressure medication, pesticides, hair, methamphetamine and veterinary drugs. |
| "They smell absolutely disgusting, they smell worse than anything you've ever smelt," lead investigator Associate Professor Jon Beves, from the University of NSW, told 9News. | "They smell absolutely disgusting, they smell worse than anything you've ever smelt," lead investigator Associate Professor Jon Beves, from the University of NSW, told 9News. |
| Professor William Alexander Donald said they resembled fat, oil, and grease blobs - often called fatbergs - which are commonly formed in sewerage systems. | Professor William Alexander Donald said they resembled fat, oil, and grease blobs - often called fatbergs - which are commonly formed in sewerage systems. |
| Detecting this along with recreational drugs and and industrial chemicals had "pointed us to sewage and other sources of urban effluent", he explained. | Detecting this along with recreational drugs and and industrial chemicals had "pointed us to sewage and other sources of urban effluent", he explained. |
| The researchers said they had received unconfirmed reports of smaller but otherwise similar balls washing up over the past two years. | The researchers said they had received unconfirmed reports of smaller but otherwise similar balls washing up over the past two years. |
| Sydney Water has reported that there are no known issues with waste systems in the city. | Sydney Water has reported that there are no known issues with waste systems in the city. |