Wax balls wash ashore at Cefn Sidan
Recent high tides and storms have washed up lumps of wax weighing more than a hundredweight on to Cefn Sidan. Pembrey Country Park Rangers, making their daily tide line beach sweeps, have been discovering the bright yellow wax balls and disposing of them as they are found using mechanical diggers to lift them into skips. Senior Park Ranger Gavin Hall said the wax was similar if not identical to material washed up in 2008 which the Environment Agency identified as harmless to humans stearic acid and octosane based wax. He said: “The agency informed us that these materials are used in food processing, detergents and soaps.” The wax balls found have been removed. They did not pose any issue to beach walkers but dog owners have said animals enjoyed chewing on the wax and were naturally attracted to it which caused them concern. Veterinary advice is that if dogs ingested enough of the wax it could cause stomach problems but it was otherwise harmless. Wading birds, too, seem to have an inte...