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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The main building at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids 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.
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