RICHMOND, CA — A Richmond high school was temporarily closed Monday, just weeks before the start of the new school year, after a toxic chemical was found underneath the site, district officials said.
West Contra Costa Unified School District said testing underneath the Kennedy High School campus found tetrachloroethylene, a nonflammable, colorless chemical considered "likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure," according to the EPA. The finding prompted the closure.
The testing was done by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, according to the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
The department told the district that there were no immediate risks to anyone's health or safety, but officials still chose to close until further testing was done "out of an abundance of caution."
"We recognize the urgency of this situation and that this is a concerning update as the start of the school year is rapidly approaching," district officials said in a statement Monday. "We want to assure our community and staff that we will continue operating swiftly, transparently, and with the utmost care for the health and safety of all of our students and staff."
It's unclear whether the school is expected to reopen before the start of the year. Classes start on Monday, Aug. 18, for the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
District officials did not say how the chemical may have gotten underneath the site.
Tetrachloroethylene is a solvent commonly used in dry cleaning and industrial degreasing. It can pose risks through vapor intrusion into buildings and groundwater contamination.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control found traces of the chemical underneath a Richmond dry cleaner in 2023.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Berkeley Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.