Soil Samples at Field School Indicate 'Elevated' Levels of Arsenic

Weston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Maloney emailed parents last night to alert them about "elevated" levels of arsenic found in one soil sample taken at earlier in the summer.

The soil sample, one of 14 taken as part of pre-construction work for the , was found behind the Recreation Center near the parking lot, Maloney said in her email.

"We are working with the Department of Environmental Protection and a consultant from an environmental engineering firm to address this finding in the following ways: 1) identifying and cordoning off a buffer area around the site; 2) conducting further testing to ascertain the extent of the contamination; and 3) creating a plan to mitigate the hazard," said Maloney in the email.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, arsenic naturally occurs in the soil in Massachusetts. It can also leach into the soil from pressure-treated wood.

Over the phone today, Maloney said she will have more information on Monday when the engineers who found the arsenic present their report. She said she did not have specific information just now about the levels found.