Weymouth School Soil Sample Exceeds Arsenic Limit

WEYMOUTH, MA — A soil sample taken from outside of Chapman Middle School has tested higher than the acceptable rate of arsenic. Weymouth Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Curtis-Whipple issued a statement saying that one of 50 samples taken as part of the new school project came back as one-tenth of a part per million over what is considered safe.

The statement said that he sample was taken from a patch of the grass behind the cafeteria. Weymouth Schools said all areas where students play were deemed to be within regulations.

The tests were done as part of the new school project approved in 2019, which requires soil tests from areas around the school. The statement said the area would be fenced off and that more testing would take place in the areas around it as officials look to determine the cause of the elevated level.