Recently, Girgaum Chowpatty, a famous tourist spot in South Mumbai, saw big, black oil-emanating balls  “tarballs” lying on its sandy beach.

What are Tarballs?

=> Tarballs are small light-absorbing, carbonaceous particles formed due to the burning of biomass or fossil fuels that deposit on snow and ice.

=> They are also formed by weathering of crude oil in marine environments.

=> They are transported from the open sea to the shores by sea currents and waves

=> They are usually coin-sized and are found strewn on the beaches. However, over the years, they have become as big as basketballs and can weigh as high as 6-7 kgs.

Indications:

• Most of the time, the presence of several tarballs indicate an oil spill.
• However, its annual occurrence on the west coast during the monsoon has led marine biologists and experts to demand an investigation into the matter.

Impacts:

=> Tarballs travelling towards the coast can get stuck to the fishing nets installed in the sea, making it difficult for fishermen to clean.

=> In addition, it could affect marine life, especially filter feeders like clams and oysters.

=> Tarball pollution is a major concern to the global marine ecosystem.

• Microbes such as bacteria and fungi are known to be associated with tarballs. They presumably play an important role in tarball degradation and some are potential human and animal pathogens.
• The percentage of the tarballs increased on days of higher levels of pollution and could contribute to the hastening of glacial melt and global warming.
• Tarballs can attract various heavy metals, including nickel, copper, and cobalt, to their surfaces.

Tarball cases in the past:

=> Noted cases of tarball occurrences have been witnessed at Goa beaches since 2010, in South Gujarat, Mangaluru and at Los Angeles beaches

=> There has never been a case of a beach closing down due to tarballs in India.