PIKETON, Ohio — In the Appalachian foothills, the shadow of the Cold War continues to cast a long, ominous shadow over the community. The recent decision to auction off Zahn’s Corner Middle School, a property previously deemed so radioactive that it had to be permanently closed, has ignited significant controversy. With the community buzzing that the local Christian Academy may purchase the building, many locals and activists have raised concerns.
Even though the Scioto- Valley Local Schools said the building was unfit for their students due to the air surrounding it and contaminated materials inside the building, as well as the ground, the school board plans to auction the property off to the highest bidder. The real estate agent shopping the old school around describes it as, “A great investment opportunity is this 53,000 +/- sq.ft. former middle school that offers unlimited potential. The building is being offered with all furnishings and a complete commercial kitchen. This property could be used for a variety of organizations or businesses such as a training center, offices, medical, sales, or manufacturing. The property offers ample paved parking. The property has all available utilities including electric, county water, public sewer, natural gas and internet.”
The History of the Building
The Scioto-Valley Local School District’s plan to sell the fully-furnished building has drawn scrutiny due to its proximity to the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), a site infamous for its radioactive emissions, and the number of children who developed cancer after attending the school.
The school board closed Zahn’s Corner Middle School in 2019, citing concerns about potential adverse health effects from radioactive contamination. The board asserted that “the health and safety of staff and students is of paramount importance.” Students were located to other district buildings around the county.
Joseph J. Mangano, MPH, MBA, of the Radiation and Public Health Project, emphasized in a published Op-Ed, “For half a century, Portsmouth enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. The enrichment process generated harmful radioactive chemicals, some of which were released into local air, water, and soil, and ingested by humans. Samples from Northern Arizona University found these chemicals in the environment throughout the area. Recent state and national health data show high and rising rates of cancer and deaths in Pike County. From 2015 to 2019, Pike had the highest rate of diagnosed cancer cases of all 88 Ohio counties.”
Experts, including environmental scientists, have highlighted that over the years—particularly during recent demolitions at PORTS—large volumes of radioactive elements have been released into the air and water, spreading well beyond the plant’s boundaries. In 2017, the Department of Energy reported trace amounts of radioactive neptunium-237 at an air monitoring station located across from Zahn’s Corner Middle School. Later, americium-241 was also detected. Both elements pose serious health risks, including bone cancer and damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, and thyroid.
In 2019, Dr. Michael Ketterer, an emeritus chemistry professor from Northern Arizona University, confirmed the presence of high-enriched uranium isotopes, indicative of emissions from PORTS, within Zahn’s Corner Middle School. Numerous instances of various radioactive elements have been verified within a six-mile radius of the plant.
People have died with cancer because of the contamination
Residents living near PORTS have long associated their health issues with the plant. At one point, five cases of childhood cancer were reported in the Piketon area, with three of the affected children having since passed away. The Pike County General Health District and the Scioto Valley-Piketon Area Council of Governments in 2023 advised against consuming produce from gardens within six miles of PORTS. Soil samples from nearby Scioto County, the village of Waverly, and the community of Lake White have tested positive for plutonium and technetium.
Despite the known hazards associated with Zahn’s Corner Middle School, the district has plans to place the building up for auction, labeling it as “fully furnished” and perfect for “an investment.” Some have proposed purchasing the building and converting it into a charter school or residential drug and alcohol rehab center. Attorneys have warned that such a venture could be fraught with legal and financial risks, including potential liability under Ohio’s child-endangering statute (Ohio Revised Code § 2919.22(A)), which could result in third-degree felony charges. Additionally, O.R.C. § 2927.24(B)(2) prohibits knowingly exposing individuals to radioactive substances with intent to cause or create a risk of serious harm, with violations classified as first-degree felonies.
However, ongoing and future activities at PORTS continue to introduce more radioactivity into the surrounding environment, critics say. These activities include the demolition of industrial buildings laden with radioactive contaminants, the use of centrifuges for uranium enrichment for nuclear reactors, and plans to build two experimental nuclear reactors by 2030.
PORTS has a documented history of contamination, including several buildings which were found to contain technetium-99, plutonium, and neptunium. Documents from the former Goodyear Atomic Plant reveal multiple radioactive material releases, exposing workers and the surrounding community to dangerous levels of contamination.
Documents uncovered by local activist Vina Colley confirm that the Department of Energy has known about plutonium contamination at PORTS since 1976. The Megatons to Megawatts Program, established in 1993 under the Highly Enriched Uranium Purchase Agreement between the United States and Russia, brought low-enriched uranium derived from decommissioned Soviet warheads to PORTS, further complicating the contamination issue. A 1999 General Accounting Office report revealed inadequate examination of a third of these shipments, raising concerns about oversight.
Plutonium, specifically the isotope Plutonium-239, is a highly radioactive element that poses significant health risks. It emits alpha radiation, a highly ionizing form of radiation, and can enter the bloodstream via the lungs, then move throughout the body and into the bones, liver, and other organs. It generally stays in those places for decades, subjecting surrounding organs and tissues to a continual bombardment of alpha radiation. This greatly increases the risk of cancer, especially lung cancer, liver cancer, and bone sarcoma.
In March 1978, a cylinder fell and ruptured, releasing nearly 21,000 lbs of radioactive material into the atmosphere. The community was never made aware of the accident until several weeks later. Other releases occurred in October 1978, July 1979, December 1983, December 1985, and January 1986 due to cylinder valve failures and process malfunctions. In total, tens of thousands of pounds of radioactive elements have been released during the plant’s years of active operation. Exposure to it can cause both chemical and radiological damage. When released in high quantities, it can cause severe health effects, including blood disorders, convulsions, and shock, and can even be fatal. The particular uranium, UF6 reacts with water, releasing corrosive hydrofluoric acid, which can cause severe burns and damage to tissues and materials. It can contaminate air, soil, and water, posing risks to both human health and the ecosystem. Technetium first appeared in gas emissions in 1976. From 1976 to 1980, uranium and transuranics were released through stormwater. Radioactive PCB oil was also poured down drains, dumped on the PORTS reserve, and rototilled into the ground.
A 2006 report documented the presence of uranium isotopes in the livers and muscle tissue of two Pike County deer that had been killed by cars. Traces of uranium were also found in milk, eggs, and vegetable gardens near the plant. Air, water, and soil tests at the time also detected amounts of uranium, plutonium, and technetium-99. Fish from waterways near the plant also revealed traces of uranium and plutonium. Just this month, Dr. Ketterer released a new study that details the uptick of radioactive isotopes in plant life surrounding the plant. Dr. Ketterer’s current study backs up what was previously known in the early 2000s.
The Guardian reached out to Pike Christian Academy. Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Guardian that Pike Christian Academy is one of those who may potentially purchase the property and place children back inside. At the time of this publication, the Guardian has yet to hear from the school.
As discussions about the sale of Zahn’s Corner Middle School persist, citizens have taken to the streets in protest. The recent study further confirms that the community surrounding the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant has endured the severe effects of contamination. The debate over the fate of the school underscores the ongoing health risks and the urgent need for continued vigilance and action to address the legacy of pollution from the Cold War era.