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theguardian.com

Sydney's Mystery Balls: A Fatberg Mystery

Thousands of mysterious black balls that washed up on Sydney's beaches were found to be fatbergs containing various waste products.

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English

United Kingdom

HealthLifestyleInvestigationEnvironmentPollutionMysteryWaste

Nsw Environment Protection AuthorityDepartment Of Climate ChangeEnvironmentEnergy And WaterUniversity Of New South WalesSydney WaterNsw Maritime

Jon BevesWilliam Donald

Has the source of the balls been identified?: The exact source of the balls remains undetermined due to their complex composition and the time spent in the water, despite investigations into water treatment plants and weather patterns.
What substances were found within the balls during testing?: Testing revealed a complex mixture of substances, including cooking oil, soap scum, diesel, human hair, plastic, drugs, and faecal matter, indicating a likely origin from human-generated waste.
What were the mystery balls found on Sydney beaches composed of?: The mystery balls that washed up on Sydney beaches were found to be composed of fatty acids, petroleum hydrocarbons, and other organic and inorganic materials, including hair, food waste, and wastewater bacteria.
Which organizations and individuals were involved in investigating the mystery balls?: Professor Jon Beves and Professor William Donald, along with the NSW Environment Protection Authority and other scientists, conducted testing to identify the composition and potential source of the mystery balls.
What was the initial hypothesis regarding the origin of the balls, and how has it been revised?: The balls were not consistent with an oil spill but rather resembled a "fatberg", a mass of congealed fats, oils, and grease that forms in sewers.

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