Washed-Up Medical Waste Prompts Closure of Beach

Orange County health officials declared the county beach here off-limits Saturday after residents discovered dozens of syringes and other medical waste washed up on the sand.

Between 60 and 90 syringes, as well as needles, foam earplugs and glass vials, were found in an initial survey of the beach Saturday morning by county officials, said Larry Honeybourne, chief of the water quality section of the county Health Care Agency.

Although single hypodermic needles are occasionally found on Orange County beaches, “this appears to be something different,” Honeybourne said. “This is the most we’ve ever seen.”

The closure affects all of Sunset County Beach from Anderson Street to Warner Avenue. It is expected to remain in effect at least through today, while officials from the county’s Health Care Agency and the Environmental Management Agency continue to investigate.

Honeybourne said officials have not determined the source of the medical waste, but said it may have come from a passing ship or been washed down flood control channels or the San Gabriel or Santa Ana rivers by the recent rains.

He said beach-goers who find syringes or other material should not touch it, but should contact sheriff’s deputies or health workers to remove it.

Officials at neighboring beaches, including Seal Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach, were alerted to keep an eye out for similar problems but none were reported by late Saturday.