Beaches In Los Angeles Close After Needles And Tampons Wash Ashore

Los Angeles is home to some of California’s dirtiest beaches. But this takes nasty to a whole new level.

Dockweiler State Beach has been closed until further notice after medical waste, including condoms, tampon applicators and hypodermic needles, from a sewer pipe washed ashore.

“Public Health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with ocean water, wet sand, and any materials washed up on shore in the area”, according to a statement from the health department.

Health officials announced that the beaches were closed on Thursday, due to medical waste. The origin of the debris remains under investigation.

However, county spokeswoman Tonya Durell told reporters that the waste was not toxic and goes on to say that it “does not pose a threat to the public”.

Heal the Bay spokesperson James Alamillo said he suspects the waste may be related to recent rainfall. The storm that struck Los Angeles caused the Hyperion Treatment Plant to divert hundreds of millions of gallons of waste water to a one-mile sewage pipe.

Heal the Bay spokesman Matthew King also reminded the public that needles and other debris shouldn’t be thrown in toilets.

For now they’re trying to keep swimmers and surfers away from the beaches. Los Angeles Sanitation crew said that plans are in place if another rainstorm does come; however, environmentalists said that their last plant did not work very well.