Palm oil has been found washed ashore on large stretches of the West Wight coast, prompting a warning to locals – especially dog owners.
The discovery of palm oil at the popular Compton Beach was first reported to HM Coastguard yesterday morning (Sunday), prompting The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team to be mobilised to investigate further.
Although most of the deposits have been located at Compton, further clumps of palm oil have also been found near Brook and in the area of Fort Victoria near Yarmouth.
The National Trust says it has been made aware of palm oil deposits at Compton Beach.
A spokesperson has said:
“Whilst the beach remains open, we ask visitors to take extra care.
“We’ll continue to monitor the situation and work with authorities to ensure the beach stays safe for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation”.
What is palm oil?
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the pulp of the fruit of African, American and Maripa palms. It is used in processed foods, toiletries and as a biofuel. Large ships also use palm oil as a tank cleaning agent.
What to do if you encounter palm oil:
• Report it: If you spot deposits of palm oil, contact HM Coastguard or the Isle of Wight Council
• Keep pets and children away: For safety, it is advisable to keep children and pets clear of the affected areas.
• Wash up: If you come into contact with the substance, wash your skin with soap or shower gel to avoid any irritation
• Contact a vet: In the event that a pet, especially a dog, may have ingested any of the substance, contact a vet. While palm oil is not poisonous to dogs, it does have a laxative effect and, if eaten, can cause sickness, diarrhoea, dehydration and, in extreme cases, pancreatitis.
This is not the first time that this has occurred. I recall the same was reported on IE some years ago and it was attributed, then, to ships having washed out their tanks which had previously contained palm oil. It was said not to be corrosive but harmful to animals if ingested.
The primary dangers with palm oil are the high levels of saturated fat which can cobtribute ti high cholesterol and heart disease if eaten and the environmental damage caused by deforestation from harvesting it. It is not toxic or poisonous. Environmentally, it is unpleasant but not in the way that crude oil washed up on shores can be. There would be no obvious reason to close beaches other than it being like bigs blobs of lard lying on the beach which is not very nice.