50 Glass Vials Wash Ashore in Newport

Fire Department and lifeguard officials collected about 50 glass vials that washed ashore Monday afternoon from an unknown source.

The four-inch vials, which were topped with rubber stoppers and held a clear, waxy substance in the bottom, did not appear to pose a health hazard, unless one broke under someone’s bare foot, said Lt. Jim Turner of the Newport Beach Marine Department. There were no reports of injuries, Turner said.

Lifeguards said all the vials washed ashore along western Newport Beach.

The tubes had no identification nor explanation of contents, Turner said. The vials were taken to Hoag Hospital, where they were destroyed, apparently without testing, Turner said.