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16th May 2019

American school closes amid “radioactive contamination” fears

Rudi Kinsella

American school radioactive

Not your average reason for school being cancelled.

An American middle school in Ohio has closed for the rest of the year after authorities found that it was contaminated with radioactive chemicals.

There are more than 300 pupils enrolled in, and 25 staff employed by Zahn’s Corner Middle School.

A nearby nuclear plant was set up during the Cold War to make weapons-grade uranium for the Department of Energy until its closure in 2001.

The plant is located roughly two miles from the school.

According to CNN, officials reported that a nearby air monitor detected enriched uranium and neptunium-237 and a scientists’ report, alongside the Department of Energy’s annual assessment, ordered the local district in Ohio to shut the school.

Local councilwoman Jennifer Chandler told CNN that five children in the district had been diagnosed with cancer in the past five years, three of whom have died, but was quick to state that she had no idea if there was any correlation between the plant and the deaths.

“You don’t want to make a claim that you can’t back up,” she said. “How is this caused? Is this a genetic cancer? Is this an environmental cancer? I’m not a medical professional.

“This isn’t a game, you know. These are people’s lives.”

Operations are now under way to decommission and decontaminate the site.