Needles, syringes among medical waste washing ashore on some Maryland beaches

BALTIMORE-- Ocean access has been restricted at Assateague State Park, Ocean City, and other Maryland beaches, after a "significant amount" of medical waste washed ashore, according to the Maryland State Parks.

Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan said needles, syringes and other trash were among the debris washing ashore, but they still do not know where it is coming from. He added that this impacted beaches from Virginia to Delaware, including Assateague and Chincoteague.

"This is the first time that I can remember that we've had this type of material wash up on our beaches," Meehan told WJZ.   

Access restrictions include: 

• swimming 
• wading
• surfing 
• any other activities in the ocean

"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."   

Ocean City says it will continue to monitor the trash that is washing up and make sure it is safe before the ocean is reopened.

If you spot any trash, you are asked to report it to Ocean City Police and encouraged not to remove it yourself.

Waste cleanup efforts

The Ocean City Department of Public Works, Beach Patrol and Police combed the shoreline, picking up the trash by hand instead of using machinery that's regularly used to clean the beaches.

While the sand remains open, people are encouraged to wear shoes and not walk barefoot. The ocean access was limited starting on Saturday, according to Meehan because of the rough surf and debris.

Most of the clean-up was on Sunday with only a few items washing ashore on Monday.

"There's only been a few objects that have washed up on the beach today and the ocean is rough, so if there's stuff out there it should be coming ashore. It looks like the major impact was sometime early yesterday morning into yesterday afternoon," Meehan said.

Where is the waste coming from?

The medical waste is being treated as a biohazard and is kept separate from other trash, according to officials. While the primary focus is the safety of beachgoers and emergency personnel, Meehan still wonders where this trash is coming from.

"Nobody throughout the state or the region, Delaware and Virginia included, has any idea. It's yet to be determined how that's going to be researched and who's going to investigate that," Meehan added.

Hugh Hawthorne, superintendent of the Assateague Island National Seashore, told the Banner the situation was still "emerging" and the north end of Assateague Island is "where the worst of this is."

"Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore," Maryland State Parks said. "Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time."   

Vacationers impacted

Ocean City regulars say this time of year is usually slower than the summertime, but right now, it is quieter than normal.

"It's like a ghost town," said Joe Schneider, who is visiting from Baltimore. "I've been coming down here for 70 years since I was a kid. I've never heard of nothing like this before."

Schneider said despite the ocean closure, he will still sit on the beach.

Other beachgoers are disheartened their vacation plans were changed. Many said they weren't aware of the closure until they spoke with beach patrol. Others said they didn't know because no signs were posted. 

Jerry Smith, who is visiting from Essex, said he found out about the ocean closure earlier this morning.

"I was hoping the wind would die down too, plus this stuff here. I would've liked to at least go out a little bit into the ocean," Smith said.

The Kidd family, visiting from Pennsylvania, was walking along the water Monday morning before the beach patrol told them they had to move up the beach.

"He just said this was more like ground zero," Walter Kidd said. "I was walking on the edge of the water, and he said don't walk in it, so you don't step on a needle or something."