PIKETON, Ohio — As the auction of Zahn’s Corner Middle School approaches tomorrow, August 17, 2024, an independent assessment has revealed measurable levels of radioactive contamination within the school, stemming from the nearby Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Piketon, Ohio.
The Pike County Community Comprehensive Sampling Evaluation (CCSE), led by the Pike County General Health District with support from Ohio University’s Voinovich School and funded by the Department of Energy (DOE), conducted a thorough sampling of the area. The assessment, conducted by Solutient Technologies and Auxier, aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the contamination off-site from DOE operations at PORTS.
In February 2024, samples taken from the interior of Zahn’s Corner Middle School detected the presence of Americium-241, Neptunium-237, Plutonium-239/240, and Technetium-99 in dust samples. Elevated radiation levels were found in four specific locations within the school. While the concentrations did not exceed the EPA’s acceptable risk level of 10^-4, some samples contained radionuclide concentrations above the EPA’s 10^-6 “point of departure” value, potentially posing a risk if present in occupied spaces.
The results are part of a broader effort to evaluate and address contamination in Pike County. Each property sampled during the CCSE will be treated as an individual exposure unit, allowing for precise risk assessment and identification of properties requiring remedial action. The Pike County General Health District and the Scioto Valley-Piketon Area Council of Governments (SVPA COG) are advocating for DOE funding to clean up contaminated properties to protect public health.
PORTS operations have been linked to widespread contamination, including radionuclides, heavy metals, and hazardous chemicals such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The DOE’s environmental monitoring reports have consistently detected these contaminants offsite. The CCSE and its Human Health Risk Assessment will guide efforts to communicate health risks to the community and implement necessary remediation and preventive measures.
As the community awaits the auction of Zahn’s Corner Middle School, the findings underscore ongoing concerns about environmental and health impacts in the area.