An El Dorado Hills school, Oak Ridge High School, has received an external clean-up in order to minimize on the risk of asbestos dust exposure resulting from the natural asbestos contained in the soil.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carried out the work, costing around $1.2 million, to try and ensure that the asbestos dust in the soil did not become airborne, thus exposing children, staff and residents in the area to the dangers of asbestos dust and fibers.

EPA chief, Daniel Meer, stated: "We are delighted to be finished with our outdoor mitigation work at Oak Ridge High School and look forward to working with the school district to make sure that its operation and maintenance regime minimizes asbestos problems in the future."

Although the natural levels of asbestos do not pose a risk whilst in the soil, the main concern of the EPA was that the asbestos fibers could become airborne through disturbance, and this would put people at risk of ingestion. Asbestos fibers, when breathed in or swallowed, can cause terminal cancer known as mesothelioma.

Oak Ridge High School has already spent $1.3 million on asbestos related clean-up prior to the EPA project.

Shortage of funds means that they will not be responsible for repaying the EPA for the money spent on the most recent clean-up project.