What are tar balls? These black sticky clumps are washing up on Palm Beach County beaches
Tar balls, these sticky, dark clumps have been appearing along the beaches in Florida, staining sand and skin, and even causing Fort Lauderdale Beach to temporarily close.
The U.S Coast Guard investigated the tar balls, which were reported from Port Everglades to Palm Beach, but said on the social media site X that "the source remains unknown."
While some may seem harmless, experts warn that tar balls can contain toxic chemicals and should be avoided. Their increasing presence has left many wondering, where do they come from, are they dangerous, and what should you do if you spot one?
Here's what you need to know.
Tar balls are small, sticky clumps of oil that sometimes wash up on shore. They're often leftover from oil spills but can also come from natural oil seeps, places where petroleum slowly rises from the ocean floor. While they may seem harmless, they can contain toxic chemicals and should be avoided.
More: Cold front bumps May-like temperatures. Expect cooler temperatures later this week
Tar balls form when crude oil on the ocean's surface breaks apart and hardens over time. After an oil spill, the oil spreads into a thin layer, but wind and waves break it into smaller patches, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration. As it undergoes weathering, a process of chemical and physical changes, it thickens, hardens, and eventually washes up on shore.
More: What are tar balls? How to remove tar ball stains from feet, hands
For most people, brief contact with a small amount of oil isn't harmful, but it's best to avoid it. Some people are more sensitive to the chemicals in crude oil, which can cause rashes or allergic reactions, according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If you see tar balls on the beach, it's safest to keep your distance.
If you get tar on your skin, wash the area with soap and water, baby oil, or a safe cleaning product like the ones found at auto parts stores. Avoid using harsh chemicals, as they can irritate the skin.
Contributing: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Diamond Walker is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at dkwalker@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tar balls on the beach in Florida: What is the cause of black clumps
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USA Today
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What's next for the Iowan who shouted 'people will die' at Joni Ernst over Medicaid cuts
Hear this story India May, a 33-year-old Democrat from Charles City, is running for the Iowa House after sparking a viral moment at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's town hall. May interrupted Ernst's answer on Medicaid cuts to shout, "people will die!" Ernst responded by saying, "people are not — well, we all are going to die." The Iowan who became part of a viral moment by recently shouting at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst that "people will die" because of proposed Medicaid cuts is a Democrat who is using the moment to launch a campaign for the Iowa House. India May, a 33-year-old from Charles City, drove to Parkersburg on May 30 to attend Ernst's town hall. As Ernst was answering a question about Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's tax cut bill, May said she "got a little worked up." She shouted at Ernst, "People will die!" Ernst's response was, "People will not — well, we all are going to die. For heaven's sakes, folks." It was a moment that generated national attention and criticism for Ernst, a second-term Republican who is up for reelection in 2026. "It wasn't the only egregious thing that she said during her town hall," May told the Register, "so I wasn't really shocked, but I was sort of disappointed." Who is India May? In the wake of the town hall, May capitalized on the resulting attention by launching her campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives in 2026. May is the director of the Ionia Public Library and is a registered nurse and a death investigator for Chickasaw County. She first moved to northeast Iowa four years ago from Kansas. She is running for Iowa House District 58, which includes Chickasaw County and parts of Floyd and Bremer counties. The district is represented by Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, who was first elected in 2022 and is serving his second term. What does India May want to accomplish in the Iowa House? May said she first got involved in Iowa politics earlier this year when she attended a town hall held by the state legislators in her area, including Thomson. In part, May said she went to oppose a bill that would deny state funding to libraries that are members of the American Library Association and Iowa Library Association, and another that would remove an exemption in Iowa's obscenity law that shields libraries and educational institutions. Neither bill ultimately passed. "I'm a nurse and a librarian, and I went to my first town hall this year to advocate for libraries and realized that there were a lot more pieces of legislation that were harmful on the Iowa level that I didn't even hear about until it was too late," she said. As a nurse, May said she has firsthand experience with some of the states' health care problems. "We have struggles with mental health care," she said. "We are the worst in the United States for mental health care. Only one-third of our counties in Iowa have access to a labor and delivery unit for mothers and babies, and these should be seen as crises." She said she wants to stand up for "these programs that are just being gutted that we really need to protect." "That's my goal is to protect Medicaid, Medicare, the VA is a huge one, plus SNAP benefits for all of the people who need a safety net and a leg up," she said. Will India May keep attending Iowa town halls? Aside from Ernst's town hall this year, May has also attended a town hall for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, which she livestreamed, and she tried to attend an event held by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, but wasn't able to get in because the venue was full. She says she plans to keep showing up. "Absolutely," she said. "I'm not afraid. I'm not shy. It's OK, if you want to hurt my feelings I'll stand right back and show up. We need to be heard." What does Sen. Joni Ernst say about Medicaid cuts? At the Parkersburg town hall, Ernst followed up her comments by saying said the goal of the tax cut bill is to make sure that people who are not eligible for Medicaid benefits don't receive them. "What you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable," Ernst said. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them. Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you don't want to listen, that's fine." Later that day she blamed "hysteria that's out there coming from the left" for the response to her initial comments. The next day, Ernst posted a sarcastic apology video on her Instagram story. "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she posted. "So, I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. "But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ." Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
