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| Photo Credit: AP. |
Severe radioactive contamination was found at an elementary school in Missouri posing significant threat to the environment and public health. The radioactive waste was found in suburban St. Louis, site of nuclear weapon production during World War II, The Associated Press cited a new report by environmental investigation consultants.
Boston
Chemical Data Corp. undertook the report at Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood
School District in Florissant which corroborated concerns raised by a previous
Army Corps of Engineers study.
In August samples
were taken from the school which formed the basis for the analysis, The
Associated Press quoted St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Jana
Elementary school is located in the flood plain of Coldwater Creek which was
reportedly contaminated during World War II in nuclear weapon production. The waste
was dumped at sites close to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, near
the creeks that flows to the Missouri River.
The Army
Corps has undertaken a cleaning program for the past 20 years.
Boston
Chemical noticed that levels of the radioactive isotope lead-210, polonium,
radium and other toxins were “far in excess” of anticipated results, according
to The Associated Press. Dust samples taken from the school were found to be
contaminated.
The report
said the radioactive materials could cause significant injury to health.