The environmental fallout from January’s catastrophic wildfires continues, with consequences extending beyond homes and businesses to include local schools.
A newly released report from the Pasadena Unified School District reveals that 40% of its campuses are dealing with contaminated soil.
At Blair High School, lead concentrations near the tennis courts have reached 80 mg/kg. That’s more than three times the state’s legal limit. Four elementary schools are also affected, with lead levels nearly double the allowable threshold.
At San Rafael Elementary School, the major concern is arsenic. The levels of arsenic in the soil have been measured at 92 mg/kg. By comparison, naturally occurring arsenic in the Pasadena and Altadena areas ranges from just 4 to 10 mg/kg on average.
Other schools with contaminated soil include Field Elementary School, Allendale, Octavia E. Butler Magnet, Longfellow Elementary School, Marshall Secondary School, and John Muir High School.
Parents fought for the soil testing to be carried out. Many of them feel the district has been inadequately responsive to their public health concerns. After the sampling results came in, PUSD officials said they would be restricting student access to certain areas. Follow-up soil testing will be conducted this summer.