US school closes for rest of year as radioactive material found
The school is close in proximity to a plant which synthesised weapons-grade uranium for the US Department of Energy from 1954 until 2001.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A US middle school is to close for the rest of the school year after radioactive chemicals were discovered to have contaminated the campus.
The school is close in proximity to The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio which synthesised weapons-grade uranium for the US Department of Energy from 1954 until 2001.
Now, 18 years after the plant ceased operations, Zahns Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio, has been forced to close after an air monitor detected enriched uranium and neptunium-237 in the area.
In a letter from the school board posted on the school district website, the president of the Board of Education Brandon Woolridge writes: “The Scioto Valley Local School District was notified that enriched uranium was detected inside the Zahns Corner Middle School building and that Neptunium 237 was detected in a US Department of Energy air monitor located adjacent to the Zahns Corner Middle School.”
“As a result of this information, the SVLSD Board of Education has made the decision to close the Zahns Corner Middle School until the source, extent, level of contamination, and potential impacts to public health and the environment can be determined.”
Enriched uranium and neptunium 237 are “contaminants of concern” as they potentially could cause cancer, the CDC reports: “Your chance of getting cancer from uranium is greater if you are exposed to enriched uranium.”
Local councilwoman, Jennifer Chandler, spoke to CNN about her concerns regarding five children who had been diagnosed with cancer in the district, three of whom unfortunately passed.
“How is this caused? Is this a genetic cancer? Is this an environmental cancer? I’m not a medical professional.” She continued, “This isn’t a game, you know. These are people’s lives.”
Decommissioning and decontamination is underway at the former nuclear plant.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments