SANTA CRUZ BEACHES CLOSE AS SYRINGES WASH ASHORE

Santa Cruz's top beaches have been posted closed after more than 100
hypodermic needles washed ashore this week.

City officials Thursday conceded they were slow to announce the hazard.
With signs posted warning of the health threat, cleanup crews continued
combing the sand from Cowell Beach to the San Lorenzo River mouth, where
needles have been found since Tuesday.

``They're everywhere, unfortunately,'' maintenance worker Bill Eisele said,
picking a syringe from a clump of seaweed in front of the Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk. It was one of 18 needles found Thursday.

Santa Cruz County health officials and city police have launched an
investigation into the matter, which could constitute unlawful disposal of
hazardous waste, a felony, said Tim Epperson, a senior county environmental
health specialist. There are no suspects and no apparent motives, he said.

``I cannot imagine what would motivate any individual to do something so
irresponsible,'' Epperson said.

Used syringes pose a serious public health risk because a prick from a
hypodermic needle can transmit deadly infectious diseases such as AIDS and
hepatitis, Epperson said.

Although the virus that causes AIDS is not believed capable of surviving
long outside the body, it could possibly be protected from exposure inside
the syringe, he said.

Hepatitis, which attacks the liver, can survive exposure in the ocean for
days and even weeks, he said.

It was unclear whether the needles had been used, and there were no reports
of any injuries caused by them, city safety officer Rick Gould said. It is
the first time in Gould's 22 years with the city that beaches have been
closed because of needles, he said.

This week's closing, however, amounted to little more than a warning. A
steady stream of surfers traipsed across the beach barefoot or in rubber
booties to ride the big waves breaking offshore while city officials looked
on.

``Technically, we could cite people and get them off the beach,'' Gould
said, watching as surfers ignored the warnings at Cowell Beach. ``But the
reality is that it's like putting a finger in a dike. You just get
overwhelmed. They're choosing to engage in risky activity.''

The warnings weren't enough to deter 17-year-old Santa Cruz surfer Keith
Quilici, who insisted he would be safe in the water and that his rubber
booties would protect him on the sand.

``I think it's heavy,'' Quilici said when asked about the needle warning as
he slipped into his wetsuit. ``But, you know, it looks pretty fun out
there.''

The needles were first discovered Tuesday afternoon, Gould said. But
warning signs were not posted at the beaches until 10:30 a.m. Wednesday,
and news media were not notified, except for one local newspaper.

The hazard was not reported to other news agencies because it was
off-season and few people were expected to visit the beach, Gould said.

City workers also were busy assessing the extent of the problem and warning
the dozen or so surfers and beachgoers who showed up, he said.

City Manager Richard Wilson said Thursday it was an oversight.

``We should have contacted everybody,'' Wilson said.

No needles were found farther down the coast from the river mouth.
Seabright and Twin Lakes state beaches remained open.