East Atlantic Beach was closed Saturday after police say hypodermic needles washed up along the shore between Ohio Avenue and Clayton Avenue.

Nassau police say about 50 to 60 items of medical waste, including 35 syringes and needles, all washed ashore.

Police say the medical waste was not in a bag, but on shore separately. A Hempstead lifeguard was able to collect the material and put it into a Gatorade bottle safely. 

MORE: East Atlantic Beach closes after needles, waste wash ashore

County officials held a press conference on the issue Saturday morning and said the beach is closed for the rest of the day until parks can assess the condition after two high tides.

New York state police, the health department, Hempstead Bay Constables and the DEC spill response team were just a few of many teams and officials checking the beach. They say the issue could have been a lot worse. They also say they're happy that it ended the way it did and that a lifeguard was able to secure the materials.

Officials say that anyone who sees any additional materials on the beach to let them know.

The Town of Hempstead also announced that all South Shore town ocean beaches as well as Nickerson Beach and Malibu beach are closed until further notice.