Cleanup of Waste Washed Ashore Still Underway

Sunset Beach was reopened Monday afternoon but a mile-long stretch of Bolsa Chica State Beach remained closed as workers continued to clear scores of hypodermic needles and other medical waste that washed ashore over the weekend.

Meanwhile, officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency began to sift through the debris, finding some prescription containers that they hope will help them determine the dumper’s identity.

“There have been some medical products found with the needles that may have identifying markers,” said Larry Honeybourne, a county water quality specialist. “But they may not be made out to the people who discharged the waste.”

More than 100 hypodermic needles, glass vials, ear plugs and other items have been recovered from both beaches since Saturday. Health officials have speculated it might have been jettisoned illegally from a passing ship or carried down local flood control channels and into the ocean by last week’s rains.

Much of the waste became entwined in vegetation and other debris, slowing the state’s efforts to clear Bolsa Chica State Beach, lifeguards said. That beach might reopen today.

Health officials said Monday that the beaches were closed as a precaution, largely out of fear that someone could be punctured by a needle. It is unlikely, officials said, that a disease-carrying agent in a needle would survive long enough to transmit disease.

“There are no documented cases of blood-borne pathogens [transmitted to] somebody stepping on a syringe at the beach,” said county epidemiologist Hildy Meyers. “I would imagine that is something of extremely low risk.”

Health officials speculated that the dumper may have dropped the waste to avoid the cost of proper disposal. Hospitals and clinics are required by law to either burn waste or sanitize it and to put sharp objects in approved containers.

Individuals are not bound by those laws but are prohibited from dumping trash into storm drains or flood control channels.