Surprising truth about giant fatberg found in sewer
An autopsy on a giant floating mass of fat the length of the Tower of Pisa has revealed a surprising fact about the lump of goo.
The fat, which is 64-metres long, was discovered below the Sidmouth Esplanade in England’s south.
Researchers from the University of Exeter cut into the pile of fat and took four samples each weighing 10kg.
They found the fat was mostly made of animal fats “consistent with domestic food preparation”.
It also included household hygiene products and fibres from paper towels and toilet paper.
However, surprisingly, researchers also found nothing inside the mass is toxic.
Professor John Love, a Synthetic Biology expert at the University of Exeter, said there were concerns about what made up the fat.
“We worried that the fatberg might concentrate fat-soluble chemicals such as those found in contraceptives, contain now-banned microplastic beads from cosmetics and be rich in potentially pathogenic microbes, but we found no trace of these possible dangers,” Professor Love said.
“We were all rather surprised to find that this Sidmouth fatberg was simply a lump of fat aggregated with wet wipes, sanitary towels and other household products that really should be put in the bin and not down the toilet.
“The microfibres we did find probably came from toilet tissue and laundry, and the bacteria were those we would normally associate with a sewer.”
A macro-analysis also found incontinence pads and false teeth.
No harmful bacteria or viruses were found either.
South West Water’s Director of Wastewater Andrew Roantree said the mass came as a reminder for people to put the right things down the toilet.
Oils, grease and fat go in the bin, not in the sink, he said.
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