Sydney: Beaches in Sydney reopened on Saturday for swimmers after authorities successfully removed thousands of black pollution balls that had washed ashore. Testing revealed that these balls were composed of chemicals similar to those found in cosmetics and cleaning products.
Approximately 2,000 of these mysterious black balls, some the size of golf balls, appeared on beaches across Sydney since Tuesday. This prompted the closure of eight beaches, including the iconic Bondi Beach, and initiated a significant clean-up operation due to concerns about their potential toxicity.
“Based on advice from the Environment Protection Authority, we can now confirm the balls are made up of fatty acids, chemicals consistent with those found in cleaning and cosmetic products, mixed with some fuel oil,” said Mark Hutchings, Executive Director of New South Wales Maritime, in a statement.
Hutchings noted that while the balls, which continued to appear in reduced numbers on Friday, are not harmful to health when left on the sand, they should not be touched.
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The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority is continuing laboratory testing to identify the origin of the balls. “It is still somewhat of a mystery and may take a few more days to determine origin,” stated EPA Executive Director Stephen Beaman.
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Sydney’s ocean beaches, renowned for their golden sand and pristine waters, attract tourists from around the globe, making the clean-up and resolution of this issue a priority for local authorities.
