Sydney’s ‘mystery’ toxic beach balls are cosmetic and cleaning product waste

Sydney’s beaches reopened to swimmers on Saturday (October 19) after authorities cleared thousands of black pollution balls that washed up on shore, which tests revealed were made of chemicals similar to those in water. cosmetics and cleaning products.

Around 2,000 of these mysterious black balls, some the size of golf balls, have washed up on Sydney beaches since Tuesday, forcing the closure of eight beaches, including the iconic Bondi Beach, and a clean-up operation massive, amid fears that they are highly toxic. .

“Based on advice from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), we can now confirm that the balls are composed of fatty acids, chemicals similar to those found in cleaning and cosmetic products, mixed with heating oil.” , said a New South Wales maritime official. director Mark Hutchings.

He added that the balloons, which continued to appear in fewer numbers on Friday, are not harmful to health when left on the sand, but should not be touched.

The NSW Environmental Protection Authority said laboratory tests were continuing to try to determine where the bullets came from.

“It still remains somewhat of a mystery and it may take a few more days to determine the origin,” said Stephen Beaman, executive director of the EPA.

Sydney’s ocean beaches, famous for their golden sand and clean water, attract tourists from all over the world. REUTERS