Chemists have found out what kind of stinky balls washed up on the beach in Australia: it is better not to touch them

Last month, eight beaches in Sydney, Australia, had to be closed to clear the coastal zone of mysterious balls that were thrown out of the water. Until now, local authorities and scientists have been trying to investigate where they came from.

Finally, chemists found out the origin of the stinky balls. It turned out that this waste comes from sewage or other urban runoff, so it is better not to touch it, IflScience writes.

"Based on advice from the Environmental Protection Agency, we can now confirm that the balls are composed of fatty acids, chemicals that match those found in cleaning and cosmetic products, mixed with a small amount of fuel oil," said Mark Hutchings, executive director of New South Wales Maritime Transport.

At first, researchers believed that the main reason these balls appeared on the coasts was an oil spill. However, further analysis, including carbon-14 dating, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and microscopic techniques, determined that they contain traces of vegetable oil, soap suds, hair, human feces, veterinary drugs, blood pressure medication, as well as psychoactive substances and methamphetamine.

"They smell absolutely disgusting, they smell worse than anything you've ever smelled. I wouldn't want to swim with them," said analytical chemist Professor William Alexander Donald.

The composition of the balls suggests they probably come from sewage or other urban runoff, although the exact source is still unknown. And despite the fact that the beaches have already been reopened, scientists advise avoiding this stinking waste if someone else comes across it.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the emperor penguin had traveled almost 3400 km and arrived at the coast of Australia.

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