Overview

• White and yellow paraffin lumps have washed ashore on Juist, Norderney, and Borkum, with initial findings reported on May 16.
• The Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN) is leading efforts to analyze the substance and determine its source.
• Preliminary assessments suggest the lumps are paraffin, a petroleum product, but the presence of toxic industrial additives has not been ruled out.
• Beach cleaning teams are using machinery to remove the lumps, and public access to the beaches remains safe, according to local authorities.
• The origin of the contamination is still unclear, with authorities suspecting tanker tank washings as a possible source.