Officials say four people suffered puncture wounds from needles found at New York City beaches in the last three weeks.

WNBC television reports that one incident occurred at Rockaway Beach in Queens and three at the Cedar Grove Beach in Staten Island.

The three Staten Island beachgoers were taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Parks Department last month promised to clean up a stretch of Rockaway Beach after medical waste, including syringes, was found there.

It said Wednesday that it cleans beaches daily but that budget constraints allow for only so much sand maintenance.

In the latest incident Tuesday evening, a lifeguard on duty stepped on a needle at 139th Street.