Mysterious lumpy white globs wash up on the shores of Canada, stump scientists

Authorities say they are taking this possible pollution threat to the coastal environment 'very seriously.' (representational image: Unsplash)

Lumpy white globs washing up on the shores of Canada's Atlantic island province of Newfoundland for weeks have captivated the imagination of locals and are baffling scientists.

The slimy, spongy globs as big as dinner plates were discovered by beachcombers in early September scattered over the pebbly beaches of Placentia Bay on the island's southern tip.

Several people posted pictures on social media asking if anyone knew anything about them.

Responses flooded in, some speculating that they may be clumps of cheese, alien poo or whale boogers.

"OMG is that Olaf?" a snowman character in the Disney film Frozen, posted one user.

Others opined they might be discarded breakfast biscuit dough or paraffin waxes from a tanker that was cleaned out and discharged at sea. They tried to light them on fire, discovering that they are combustible.

Authorities say they are taking this possible pollution threat to the coastal environment "very seriously."

The Canadian Coast Guard sent a three-person team "to assess the situation" and collect samples of the globs on the beaches west of the provincial capital St. John's, for testing.

Federal environmental emergencies officers have been conducting what the environment ministry said were extensive "aerial, underwater, and manual surveys of the beaches and shorelines in the area to determine the extent of the substance, what it is and its potential source."

"At this time, neither the substance nor its source has been identified," Environment and Climate Change Canada spokeswoman Eleni Armenakis told AFP. "Preliminary analysis at an ECCC laboratory suggests that the material could be plant-based," she said.

However, further analysis on the "mysterious substance" is needed to determine exactly what it is and its potential impacts, she added.

Tar balls in Sydney

Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, the discovery of tar balls lead to the closure of several beaches in Sydney, Australia. These balls are formed when oil comes into contact with other debris and water — usually as a result of oil spills or seepage. The source of the black balls -- which was found to be not highly toxic to humans -- is "somewhat of a mystery".

At least 2,000 tar balls were removed during the clean-up operation last week. The NSW Environment Protection Australia told SBS News it was still examining the balls to trace its origin.

(With inputs from AFP)