The main building at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been closed as officials deal with the presence of asbestos.
A contractor working in the building raised concerns with the Iowa Natural Resources Department, and the school district said in a news release that testing showed one area of the building “is currently above an acceptable level.”
Tiny fibers of the carcinogen can be breathed in and lodge in the lungs, leading to fatal illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The building will remain closed while officials devise a solution.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Electric Bills in Coal Country West Virginia Now Top Mortgage Payments 
Three Sentenced in Bear-Suit Attacks Insurance Fraud Case 
Chubb Q1 Net Income Increases 74% on Fewer Catastrophe Losses 
How Niche Insurance Shielded Bad Bunny From Bad Weather 
