Thousands of mystery balls that washed up on Sydney beaches last month are confirmed as gunk globules made of products such as motor oil, hair, food waste, animal matter and wastewater bacteria – but their source is yet to be traced.
A statement from NSW Environment Protection Authority on Wednesday confirmed the balls comprised fatty acids, petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic materials – not tar balls, which was widely theorised.
Tests were conducted by the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, and scientists at University of New South Wales.
The balls were found to contain hundreds to thousands of different materials, including hair and “various fibres”, which suggests they originated from a source that releases mixed waste.
But testing has not been able to confirm their exact origin “due to the complex composition of the balls and the time they have spent in the water”.
“Authorities have so far been unable to trace the source,” the statement said.
Final results are expected in the coming weeks.
In October, the Guardian reported the team of scientists analysing the debris was investigating whether the balls had come from a nearby water treatment plant.
The statement from NSW EPA on Wednesday said Sydney Water had confirmed “there were no issues with the operation or maintenance of the Bondi or Malabar water resource recovery facilities” soon after the balls were reported.
There is also nothing conclusive yet from NSW Maritime’s examination of weather patterns in the days leading up to the balls washing up on beaches.
Oils and fats in products such as cooking oils, soaps and skincare items make up fatty acids, the statement said. Petroleum hydrocarbons are chemicals from oil and gas products such as gasoline, motor oil and diesel fuel.
Organic materials are substances than can naturally decompose, such as hair, food waste and other plant and animal matter, the statement said. Inorganic matter includes sand, calcium salt and bacteria associated with wastewater.
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