Cancer risk confirmed at Adelaide school
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Le Fevre primary school: dust with cancerous compound confirmed (Education Dept)
An investigation of dust contamination at Le Fevre primary school at Birkenhead has revealed low levels of a carcinogenic compound.
The dust contained benzo(a)pyrene and was found to have blown from the Newport Quays waterfront project on the nearby Port River, in Adelaide north-western suburbs.
The South Australian Government says testing indicates no health risk from the short time students were exposed to the dust.
Environment Minister Jay Weatherill says the school will be thoroughly cleaned.
"The Department of Health and the EPA [Environment Protection Authority] considered the steps that have been taken to this point and have regarded it important that there be a further step - that is that the school be cleaned to ensure that all of the dust is removed," he said.
"There's also some further management initiatives to be put in place to further minimise the dust, or the risk of any dust escaping from that site."
SA health authorities say a person would have to be exposed to benzo(a)pyrene for between 20 to 40 years to increase their cancer risk.
