Tar Balls Wash Up Along Newport Beach Coastline

Image: File photo of South Bay tar balls courtesy of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Globs of tar are washing up on Orange County beaches this week. Authorities attribute the petroleum globs from natural sources as there have been no oil spills reported in the area.

The globs began showing up little by little two weeks ago in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and neighboring coastlines.

“Anecdotally, I remember last week, we had a couple requests for assistance and maybe the week before too,” said Newport Beach Lifeguard Captain Boyd Mickley. “Historically there is naturally occurring oil in this area. In the Huntington-Bolsa area, from time to time, some of that percolates up through the sand. Newport Beach doesn’t get it that often.”

Mickley recommends beachgoers avoid picking up the tar balls. For anyone who steps on them, he recommends cleaning it off with an oil based product such as mineral oil or W-40 followed by soap and water.

The tarballs have not yet shown up in Laguna Beach, according to the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Department.

Last year, mysterious tar balls posing health concerns washed ashore from Malibu Seal Beach.

Image: File photo of South Bay tar balls courtesy of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards