Dog given warning as toxic 'ear wax' substance washes up on UK beaches

Dog owners have been put on high alert after chunks of palm oil washed up on the coast of Anglesey this week. The foul-smelling lumps, some resembling huge fossilised eggs, have been reported to the Coastguard for potential removal. It's believed that the solidified palm oil may have been deposited during Storm Floris earlier in the week.

Since then, the substance has been found at Porth Diana beach in Trearddur Bay and Porth Tywyn Mawr (Sandy Beach) near Llanfwrog in Wales. Both are west-facing beaches in the northern part of the island.

Dogs are attracted to the lumps of palm oil due to their overpoweringly sweet smell.

Although the edible vegetable oil, which is used in cosmetics and processed foods, isn't toxic to dogs, it can cause a laxative effect, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea, according to North Wales Live, reported the Mirror.

Vets warn that in extreme cases, it can lead to pancreatitis. A potentially bigger issue is the contaminants that the oil masses pick up while floating at sea.

Before reaching the shore, they can absorb diesel, chemicals, sewage and harmful bacteria. The lumps found at Porth Tywyn Mawr were described as "soft and smelling of diesel".

While less than half of dogs that eat palm oil become ill, in the most severe cases, intravenous fluid therapy may be needed, especially if it leads to intestinal blockages.

Pet owners are generally advised to contact their veterinarian as a precautionary step.

Solidified masses of palm oil, frequently resembling waxy stones or rocks in white, yellow or orange hues, are creating quite a commotion along the coastline.

HM Coastguard has compared these oily lumps to "giant chunks of earwax".

Palm oil remnants are a familiar occurrence on British beaches, though Anglesey has been particularly affected for the past three decades.

This stems from a 1991 catastrophe when the Maltese vessel "Kimya" overturned during a tempest 16 miles southwest of Holyhead, claiming the lives of 10 crew members.

The ship was transporting palm oil in its cargo hold, and it's thought that following storms have loosened the freight, washing waxy fragments toward the shoreline.

One individual suggested online that this was the origin of the latest beach deposits.

"It turns up all over the island after storms, but it is encapsulated now and looks like soap bars, or pieces of it," he said.

"The pieces have turned up as far as Rhos on Sea.

"Boats do dump palm oil at sea, but the Kimya palm oil looks like this and doesn't leave a yellow pungent 'trail' like fresh palm oil does."

Generally, palm oil chunks stem from vessels utilising the material as a cleansing agent to rinse their fuel compartments whilst at sea.

Previously, storage containers used for carrying palm oil were also cleaned at sea to avoid contaminating subsequent shipments. Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, revealed that some oilbergs can weigh up to a quarter of a tonne, and it's typically the responsibility of local authorities to arrange for testing and removal if necessary.

Other vegetable oils also find their way into the sea, solidifying in the UK's cold waters. The Coastguard has admitted that distinguishing between them can be a challenge without lab tests.

Since 2021, discharging palm oil residues into European waters has been illegal. Cargo tanks must now be pre-washed before ships embark on their journey.

HM Coastguard posted online: "Tracing the origin of washed-up substances is difficult as they might have drifted over a long period and for many miles before arriving on land. The ship involved may not even have passed through UK waters or visited a UK port, and testing is unlikely to reveal its source.

"One way of tracking pollution is by satellite detections - unnatural wave patterns are often a clue. Most of these in UK waters turn out to be permitted tank discharges, but they are still investigated by the MCA to find the source and determine legality."