Black balls that washed ashore and closed a string of famous beaches contained scores of different materials – but their source remains a mystery

Thousands of mystery balls that washed up on Sydney beaches last month are confirmed as gunk globules made of products like motor oil, hair, food waste, animal matter and wastewater bacteria – but their source is yet to be traced.

A statement from NSW Environment Protection Authority on Wednesday confirmed the balls comprised fatty acids, petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic materials – not tar balls, which was widely theorised.

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