Public officials said Monday that medical waste and debris continued to wash ashore on the state’s beaches, though less than the amount that led authorities from Maryland, as well as Delaware and Virginia, to close beaches to swimming and wading on Sunday.

It was “considerably less” in Ocean City, where swimming and surfing are still prohibited for an undetermined time, because officials don’t want the public to come in contact with the waste. At least some of the waste may be the kind subject to regulated disposal.

“The debris is/was a mix of general trash and medical waste, including syringes, wood particles and rubbish,” Jessica Waters, a spokeswoman for the town, said in an email.

“We closed the ocean, began monitoring the situation and began collecting debris,” Waters said. “At this time, we do not know the source of the waste; however, we will work closely with public health authorities, and our state and local partners to investigate the matter further.”

Authorities began closing beaches to swimming in Mid-Atlantic states Sunday when they discovered the waste in Ocean City and Assateague Island, which includes a state park and a national park spanning Maryland and Virginia.

Delaware officials also searched its coastline and found a small amount of medical waste and debris on beaches after being alerted by Maryland officials, said Nikki Lavoie, spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Despite the low level of waste, officials are “taking the situation seriously and advising caution,” she said, adding that the agency will work with municipal officials in deciding when to reopen public beaches.

Gregg Bortz, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said rangers in Assateague State Park found more needles and other plastic debris there Monday after finding needles and needle caps in various colors Sunday. Rangers had also found feminine hygiene products and cigarillo cigar tips.

“There have not been any reports to our Assateague State Park staff of anyone encountering these items while swimming, nor any reports of injuries,” he said in an email.

“The Department of Natural Resources is coordinating with other local, state and federal agencies to determine when it’s safe for people to swim and enter the water,” he said. “The public is advised to take caution along the coastline and should not touch any plastic debris in or near the water.”

Proper disposal of medical waste

Maryland, as well as other states and federal regulators, has rules about proper transport and disposal of medical waste, particularly what’s called special medical waste. That includes syringes.

It can also be items that are biohazardous or infectious to humans such as blood and pathological waste, animal carcasses and human body parts and anything contaminated with this waste.

Yucky but not special medical waste includes feminine hygiene products or diapers, small amounts of blood or body secretions or teeth, according to state health and environmental information.

Health and environmental officials regulate handling and disposal of special medical waste from hospitals and other health care facilities and must be notified when it’s moved — and when there are incidents or accidents.

Hospitals in the region had been sending such waste to an incinerator in South Baltimore because it’s considered the safest method of disposal of infectious waste, for example. Though some hospitals rethought their deals after the incinerator was fined in 2023 for violating environmental laws by knowingly disposing of partially burned and improperly treated biohazardous medical waste.

Earlier this year, the Maryland Department of Environment filed a lawsuit in Baltimore Circuit Court against Curtis Bay Energy, which runs the incinerator in Hawkins Point. The state asked a judge to order the company to make necessary repairs and impose fines of up to $25,000 per violation. The firm said it had been working with regulators on compliance.

Jay Apperson, spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment, reiterated Monday that not all medical waste is special medical waste, which is considered a hazardous waste. Officials haven’t determined if anything, including the syringes, found on the beaches is hazardous. But if it is, it will need proper treatment. That means it would be incinerated or sterilized with steam or chemicals before disposal.

The department “is working in cooperation with numerous state, local and federal agencies and with authorities in Delaware and Virginia in the investigation and response to this event,” he said. “This investigation includes an evaluation of the waste on the shorelines.”

State health officials said this is why it’s important not to touch anything found on the beach, but to report it to authorities.

“The beaches are closed to keep people safe,” said Chase Cook, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Health. “Please do not approach or touch any medical waste as the cleanup efforts continue. Investigators are still looking into the type and source of medical waste. We are monitoring for any illnesses as a result of this.”