Mysterious black balls on the Sydney beach: stinking mini-fatbergs

Mysterious black balls on the Sydney beach: stinking mini-fatbergs

The puzzle about the black balls that have been washed up on some of the best -known beaches of Sydneys last month has now been solved - and it is worse than you can imagine.

origin of the mysterious balls

Australian beach visitors were rejected by seven beaches last month after lifeguards discovered thousands of black spheres. This led to the closure of the beaches and to large -scale cleaning work.

scientific knowledge

A team of scientists from the University of New South Wales (unsw) has informed that the black balls-which were initially considered tar-are actually mini "fatbergs", consisting of human feces, methamphetamine, human hair, fatty acids and food, in addition to hundreds of other disgusting and confusing substances.

odor nuisance and health risks

"You smell absolutely disgusting, worse than anything you have ever smelled," said the senior investigator, Associate Professor Jon Beves, in an interview with the CNN offshoot 9News.

Health information from the environmental protection authority

The environmental protection authority of New South Wales (EPA) warned the residents of Sydney on October 17th, to avoid the balls after they were discovered on seven beaches, including the famous Bondi Beach.

The chemical analysis

At this point, the contents of the balls were "a puzzle", and local officials ordered a number of tests to find out what they are and where they come from. The first tests pointed out that they could consist of unpassed oil, possibly from an oil leak. Professors Beves and William Alexander Donald von der unsw reported on the website The Conversation: "However, further tests showed a different, more disgusting composition."

Environmental problem by Fatbergs

The balls corresponded to the typical Fatbergs, a icy mass of fat, oils and greasy molecules that can accumulate in wastewater systems, according to the scientists, who pointed out that their appearance illustrates the problem of pollution on Sydney's coast.

The dangers of Fatbergs

"I wouldn't want to swim with them," Donald told 9news. Fatbergs occur in all shapes and sizes. In 2021 a massive 330-Tonnen-fatberg in birmingham, uk, for Chaos when he clogged an urban wastewater system for weeks.

unexplained origin of the balls

But these Fatbergs in Sydney are not ordinary. The lumps contained everything from faeces to medication and leisure drugs, according to the scientists. Where these disgusting balls come from, however, remains a mystery.

possible causes and examinations

The balls probably come from "a source that emits mixed waste", as from a press release of the epa. "The authorities have considered several possible causes, such as a ship's accident or a wastewater outflow," the explanation said. "Due to the complex composition of the balls and the time they spent in the water, their exact origin could not be confirmed."