Environmental Specialist to Disuss Malibu High Testing Results

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Temporary fencing was installed in 2010 due to trenching work for a new information technology room at at the Malibu Middle and High School Campus. Soil containing elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was also removed in 2010, but some teachers believe the recent diagnoses of three colleagues with thyroid cancer may be related to contaminants at the campus. 

Environmental specialist Mark Katchen will speak at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School on Thursday to present a status report on testing for environmental contaminants and Juan Cabrillo and Malibu High School.

The Environmental Concern Parent Meeting, hosted by the Juan Cabrillo PTA, will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, in the MPR.

Katchen, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s environmental specialist, will present the report and field any questions parents have. He also spoke at a Malibu High PTSA meeting last month to address early concerns and discuss testing plans. 

Juan Cabrillo and MHS were tested earlier this month for radon. MHS was also tested for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) following concerns raised by teachers in early October that the diagnosis of three MHS teachers with thyroid cancer, among other health concerns, could be linked to environmental contaminants on campus.Â