How and why tar balls end up on Texas beaches

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (KXAN) — A phenomena washes up on Texas’ beaches: sticky, black balls of tar .

According to the Texas General Land Office (GLO), the tar balls come ashore in the summer due to changes in ocean currents. The balls occur when petroleum, whether arising from naturally occurring oil seeps or from off-shore oil spills, combines with seawater and solids.


Report: Texas beaches could be unsafe for swimming

Tar balls also occur near California, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Response and Restoration.

The first record of tar balls in Texas comes from Luis de Moscoso in 1543. Moscoso’s expedition came ashore between Sabine Pass and High Island, according to the GLO. The expedition collected the tar balls to use as hull caulk.

In terms of health risks, the GLO claims that brief contact is harmless, but should be cleaned off the body with soap and water, baby oil or other skin-safe cleaning compounds.

Despite the low risks, the balls are unsightly and undesirable during a day at the beach. Any sighting should be reported to the GLO’s Oil Spill Division hotline at 800-832-8224. The division also patrols Texas beaches.

From there, that division collects and analyzes samples to determine the oil’s origin, then determines the extent of oil in the water and on beaches. If a clean-up is necessary, the GLO works with other agencies to clean up the tar balls. Local governments, other state agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard have been involved in previous clean-ups.

“We work together to reduce impacts to wildlife, vegetation, beach sand and beach visitors,” said Kimberly Hubbard, GLO’s senior director of communications, in an email. “Our goal is to always minimize disturbance and keep Texas beaches safe.”

 

Courtesy: Texas General Land Office
Courtesy: Texas General Land Office

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (KXAN) — A phenomena washes up on Texas’ beaches: sticky, black balls of tar.

According to the Texas General Land Office (GLO), the tar balls come ashore in the summer due to changes in ocean currents. The balls occur when petroleum, whether arising from naturally occurring oil seeps or from off-shore oil spills, combines with seawater and solids.


Report: Texas beaches could be unsafe for swimming

Tar balls also occur near California, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Response and Restoration.

The first record of tar balls in Texas comes from Luis de Moscoso in 1543. Moscoso’s expedition came ashore between Sabine Pass and High Island, according to the GLO. The expedition collected the tar balls to use as hull caulk.

In terms of health risks, the GLO claims that brief contact is harmless, but should be cleaned off the body with soap and water, baby oil or other skin-safe cleaning compounds.

Despite the low risks, the balls are unsightly and undesirable during a day at the beach. Any sighting should be reported to the GLO’s Oil Spill Division hotline at 800-832-8224. The division also patrols Texas beaches.

From there, that division collects and analyzes samples to determine the oil’s origin, then determines the extent of oil in the water and on beaches. If a clean-up is necessary, the GLO works with other agencies to clean up the tar balls. Local governments, other state agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard have been involved in previous clean-ups.

“We work together to reduce impacts to wildlife, vegetation, beach sand and beach visitors,” said Kimberly Hubbard, GLO’s senior director of communications, in an email. “Our goal is to always minimize disturbance and keep Texas beaches safe.”

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

<article class="article-list__article article-list__article–has-thumb article-list__article–is-media-type" data-article-id="1842823" data-context="headline_list_one_col_image_branded" data-index="0" data-collection="article-list1" data-anvato-params=""pauseOnTabInactive":false
// –>

Austin Weather

Current

81°

Sunny

Tonight

78°

Mostly Clear

Precip: 0&percnt;

Tomorrow

105°

Mostly Sunny

Precip: 0&percnt;

Trending Stories


‘Serious problems’ Austin Mayor talks future of Zilker


Explore this place to scuba dive in the middle of …


Lawsuit filed over Paxton impeachment proceedings


Buc-ee’s responds to ‘Buk-ii’s’ store in Matamoros


Taylor Swift urged to postpone LA-area shows


BestReviews.com – Top gifts to make everyone happy this summer


Amazon’s best back-to-school deals for high schoolers

/ 3 days ago


Amazon’s best back-to-school deals for middle schoolers

/ 4 days ago


Amazon’s best back-to-school deals for elementary …

/ 5 days ago


Home Depot’s 12-foot skeleton is back, so Halloween …

/ 2 weeks ago


The 75+ best deals post-Prime Day

/ 2 weeks ago


Prime Day is over but 100+ of our favorites are still …

/ 2 weeks ago


View All BestReviews Picks

Don’t Miss


Mysterious light spotted over Central Texas


Austin dog walking temperatures


Hidden dangers revealed at Lake Travis


How long will the total eclipse last in Texas?


KXAN launches new news podcasts



Latest weather conditions from the KXAN First Warning Weather team