Syringes turn up on N.J. island's beaches

SHIP BOTTOM, N.J., June 17 (UPI) -- Beaches on New Jersey's Long Beach Island reopened Sunday, one day after they were closed because insulin syringes were found in the sand, officials said.

The Long Beach Island Health Department said in a statement that the medical waste turned up on beaches in Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Barnegat Light and North Beach Haven, The Press of Atlantic City said. No injuries were reported.

The syringes -- which appeared to be the type meant for home-use by diabetics -- were discovered by lifeguards as the tide receded on the first day they were on duty, the newspaper said.

The discovery prompted the closure of most of the island's beaches Saturday afternoon.

Health Department Director Tim Hilferty said closing the beaches temporarily was necessary to "make sure that the public's best interest is served."

The department had not determined the source of the medical waste, though Hilferty said it likely did not originate on the island. It's possible it came from sewer-overflow systems or "from the inner shorelines of the New York-New Jersey Harbor areas," the department said.

Continue reading here:

Syringes turn up on N.J. island's beaches

Related Posts

Comments are closed.