Hypodermic needles have been washing up on Barrington Beach. 

Barrington Recreation Department Director Michele Geremia said people have found nearly two dozen needles on Barrington Beach this summer. 

She said beachgoers and lifeguards found six needles during a three-week period earlier this summer, and a cleanup crew walking the beach on Monday, Aug. 7 discovered an additional 14 hypodermic needles.

“I talked to the Department of Health. They had no idea where they were coming from,” Geremia said. “They (RI Department of Health officials) were curious if they had needles attached. Some of them did. So I sent them pictures.

“Then I contacted DEM (RI Department of Environmental Management) and they’ve had this happen so far this summer, at East Matunuk and at Misquamicut.”

Geremia sent out a town-wide email on Saturday, Aug. 5 after a beachgoer found a needle and turned it over to beach staff. The email stated, in part, “Please be alert and if you find one, do not handle. Notify the beach staff immediately and they will dispose of it properly.”

Geremia said the email caught the attention of folks at the East Bay Recovery Center in Warren, who called her and offered to sweep the beach for needles twice a week until the end of the season. 

The group’s first check of the beach was Monday, Aug. 7 — they found 14 hypodermic needles, Geremia said. 

Officials believe the needles are washing up, and that they are not being discarded on the beach. 

“They’re assuming they’re washed up, because they’re also in very deteriorated condition,” Geremia said. “These are not needles that look brand new. 

“Some of them have sand in them. They haven’t just been dropped on the sand. And I think that’s important for people to know.”

Geremia said the beach is still safe to use.

“Yes, it’s safe. People should be alert. People should be aware of where they’re stepping, and as we put out in that blast, if you find one, don’t pick it up. Ask a beach staff. The lifeguards have been trained how to handle them,” Geremia said. 

The director said she has not noticed any decrease in beach attendance since the hypodermic needles were first discovered. 

“I don’t think people are going to let that stop them. Just know to be careful,” she said. “We put signage at the entrance of the beach. So there’s a sign that says if you find a hypodermic needle, alert the staff. 

“It’s too bad… especially when you can’t trace it to somewhere. How can you stop it if you can’t trace it?”

Nearby beaches

Geremia said she reached out to officials in Warren and Bristol to see if they have had any hypodermic needles wash up on beaches in their communities. They have not, she said. 

“Nope. I talked to both those communities because we wanted to be a good neighbor. I did not check with Conimicut (in Warwick). I only checked with Bristol and Warren because I really wanted them to be on the alert and be watching for this,” Geremia said. “It seemed odd that it would be Barrington, but not Warren or Bristol. Until yesterday, we only had sporadic ones coming to us.”