Mystery “Blobs” Washing Up in Newfoundland May Have Been Identified Through MS

A recent article in the New York Times (1) reported that Canadian chemist Christopher Kozak believes he has identified “with a high degree of confidence” the strange blobs that started washing up on Newfoundland’s shores months ago, although the Canadian authorities said they were still investigating. Utilization of a mass spectrometry (MS) test, which broke up chemical chains from the substance into easier-to-study fragments, gave Kozak enough evidence to come forward with his determination.

Globs of a white sticky substance, possessing a spongy interior and ranging in size from a coin to a dinner plate, have been found along Placentia Bay, a body of water on the southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada (2), since at least September. While Canada’s environmental agency Environment and Climate Change Canada have begun an investigation, no conclusions have been released (1).

Kozak, as part of Memorial University/Newfoundland and Labrador University’s Green Chemistry and Catalysis Group, has focused his research on synthetic organometallic and coordination chemistry, catalysis, and green chemistry. Students and researchers who are part of the group develop skills in synthetic inorganic and organic chemistry, air-sensitive techniques (using state-of-the-art glove boxes and vacuum lines), spectroscopic techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR], electro paramagnetic resonance [EPR], Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FTIR], UV–vis, MS), magnetic property measurement, and X-ray diffraction (3).

One of the first things Kozak noticed in his investigation was that the blob had “a kind of petrochemical odor to it, kind of like if you walk down the turpentine aisle of your hardware store.” Given Newfoundland’s fishing industry and the material’s use in insulating boats, Kozak’s first hypothesis was that the substance was polyurethane. However, polyurethane is less dense than water; when the sample was tested, it sank. While chemical analysis found that the substance contained carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, neither nitrogen nor sulfur was detected, which strongly suggested that it did not have a natural source. The absence of silicon, said Kozak, ruled out silicone latex or caulking (1).

It was only after a mass spectrometry test that Dr. Kozak had gathered enough evidence to come forward, first to CBC Radio’s “The Broadcast with Paula Gale” on that show’s November 4 episode (4), with an identification. “I’m quite confident that the sample that I handled was PVA butylene rubber,” he said in his phone interview, describing a mix of synthetic rubber and polyvinyl acetate, known as PVA. That polymer, he said, is “the active ingredient in white glue—the kind of white glue you have at home is a very dilute, kid-friendly version of this stuff” (1).

Although Kozak stated that a synthetic rubber and PVA mixture would in theory be safe to handle, as a plastic pollution it should be cleaned up. However, he also said that should the material have been tainted by a toxic pollutant such as crude oil, it should be handled with caution. Kozak believes that the greater threat may be toward marine life, especially if more of the material sank to the ocean floor as “it could be perceived […] as food, looking like squid, octopus, (or) jellyfish,” Dr. Kozak said (1).

The substance’s origin, as well as how it wound up in the ocean, is still a mystery. Placentia Bay has a long history as a center for both fishing and industry, being home to both a shipyard and to oil facilities. There is also the possibility that the substance may have crossed a long distance from another point before finally washing ashore (1).

While Kozak plans to share his data with other scientists, his focus remains on his main research and university work, stating that his blob investigations were “really a side quest” (1).

Aerial view of Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. © Erik - stock.adobe.com

References

1. Chemist Identifies Mystery ‘Blobs’ Washing Up in Newfoundland. New York Times website. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/world/canada/blobs-canada-newfoundland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aU4.stl6.yUDAJ2sE3xt2&smid=url-share (accessed 2024-11-18).

2. Placentia Bay. Wikipedia webpage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placentia_Bay (accessed 2024-11-18).

3. Christopher M. Kozak. Memorial University/ Newfoundland and Labrador University website. https://www.mun.ca/chem/ckozak/ (accessed 2024-11-18).

4. The Broadcast with Paula Gale. CBC website. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-122-the-broadcast (accessed 2024-11-18).