What Is This So Called "oily Substance"?

[flobadob]

What is the oily substance that is covering birds in southern England? Is it oil?

[malagabob]

On one report it said it was palm oil. Used in foodstuffs a lot.

[woofgang]

they said on tv it was of vegetable origin but more like a varnish that an oil or grease. Apparently the usual cleaners aren't working :(
Palm oil is carried in temperature controlled tanks. If the temperature gets to low, it sets, if it gets too high it changes in nature. Its not beyond possibility that a tanker "boiled" its palm oil cargo and therefore jettisoned it at sea rather than pay for the disposal. If thats the case, i hope the barstewards rot in hell

[Prudie]

They have ruled out palm, vegetable and animal oil. It's a mineral oil that they've still not identified. I certainly hope they do pursue the source and find out if it was a deliberate dumping.

[douglas9401]

Has anybody checked to see if Piers Morgan's been for a dip in the area?

[flobadob]

What are the chances of it being naturally occurring. Perhaps seeping from the sea bed.

[woofgang]

two, flobadob, slim and very slim.

[brionon]

Any of the TV progs like Bones for example would have known in minutes what it was !!