McClymonds High School will be closed for the rest of the week after the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE) was found in groundwater beneath the school, the Oakland Unified School District said Thursday.
Active TCE Cleanup Sites Near McClymonds High Scool
An NBC Bay Area review of Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) records found five active cleanup sites warranting a state response within 2,000 feet of McClymonds in which TCE was a potential contaminant of concern.
Source: California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Credit: Sean Myers/NBC Bay Area
According to the district, the compound was not found in the school's drinking water, but officials temporarily closed the school over concerns the chemical may be impacting air quality.
One of the major concerns with TCE is the potential for “vapor intrusion,” where chemicals in groundwater or soil vaporize and migrate into the buildings and air above.
Both state and county officials have confirmed that the compound came from somewhere offsite, the district said.
The compound is generally used as an industrial solvent and is Colorless, non-flammable and has a slightly sweet smell. Exposure to trichloroethylene can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, with higher concentrations leading to more serious complications such as nausea, headaches and liver damage.
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TCE is a contaminant regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which set maximum contaminant levels for certain chemicals in drinking water. Potential health consequences of long-term exposure to TCE include liver problems and increased risk of cancer, according to the California State Water Resources Control Board.
An NBC Bay Area review of Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) records found five active cleanup sites warranting a state response within 2,000 feet of McClymonds in which TCE was a potential contaminant of concern.
Those sites include: Cal Tech Metals, Harris Dry Cleaners, Lane Metal Finishers, the Northwestern Venetian Supply Corp site, and a cluster nearby commercial buildings.
There are several additional cleanup sites in the area that may be impacted by other contaminants, according to DTSC records.
This not the first time Oakland schools have faced contamination concerns.
A 2019 report released by the district found elevated lead levels in drinking water coming from water fountains and faucets at multiple schools across the district.
Tests revealed water coming from 33 separate water fountains or faucets across the district contained lead levels above federal safe drinking water standards.
In two cases, lead levels in the water were ten times higher than safety standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Last May, the district said it was in the process of repairing the fixtures with elevated lead levels.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
