Mystery of blobs washing up on Newfoundland's beaches solved, as scientists pinpoint chemical

The mystery behind white blobs washing ashore on eastern Newfoundland's beaches that gripped public attention this fall — and commanded international media interest along the way — has been figured out, according to a St. John's scientist. 

In early September, people began finding white, sponge-like substances on beaches in Placentia Bay. 

Speculation about the blobs included discharged waste and fats — although Memorial University chemistry profiessor Chris Kozak has narrowed it down.

"It's man-made. It's not natural," Kozak told CBC Radio's The Broadcast.

"There was no nitrogen or sulphur in it... I think what I've nailed it down to is a polyvinyl acetate." 

Hilary Corlett, an assistant professor with Memorial University's earth sciences department, had already taken some samples and had theorized the blobs were man-made.

She reached out to Kozak, who confirmed it — and more.

"It might have been an industrial adhesive or something like that at one point and it ended up in the ocean," he added.

Also known as PVA, this material had undergone a "cross-linking process" to turn it into its current state.

Kozak said the blobs aren't coming from a common adhesive Elmer's glue, which contains PVA, or Borax, which is used in children's crafts to make a rubbery-slime substance.

"This is not some school kids science experiment that's gone awry — but it's a similar sort of thing," he said. 

Kozak said PVA's most common use is in adhesives, glue, thin films and protective coatings, including in certain nail polish coatings.

"But on such a large scale, this would be a type of industrial adhesive," he said.

At this point he said he wouldn't be able to say where the blobs originated, and said the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and others will need to track that down.