Mysterious debris balls urgently close 9 beaches in Sydney, Australia – The National

Once again, small ball-shaped debris washed up on Sydney’s shores, Australiawhich is why nine beaches are closed while experts try to find out what they are and where they come from.

The gray and white balls, most of them the size of marbles, come months after mysterious black balls floated up, which led to the closure of eight beaches in October. When authorities tested the pellets, they determined they were likely the result of a sewage spill.

Now, Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins says yes the latest balls “can be anything.”

“At the moment we don’t know what it is and that makes it even more worrying,” she told The Guardian.

“Something is obviously leaking or falling out…floating out there and being thrown around.”

In a statement, Northern Beaches Council said it was working with the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to clear the mystery balls and send them for examination.

Meanwhile, beachgoers were advised to avoid Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches until further notice.

According to the BBC, the debris that the water dislodged in October was widely reported “tar balls,” but testing has shown that they contain everything from pesticides and hair, to cooking oil, soap residue, veterinary drugs, methamphetamine, and more.

Scientists said they resembled smears of fat, oil and grease – as they are often called fat — which are usually created in sewage systems from human waste and can form when substances build up and stick together.

The EPA advised the public not to handle the debris balls and to report them when they are found.

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