Crime & Safety
Hazmat Team Called To Howard County High School To Investigate Uranium Vial
A vial of uranium found in a donated box of supplies to a high school prompted a visit by the hazmat team and a staff evacuation.
HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A vial labeled uranium — a radioactive metal used to make nuclear fuel — was uncovered in a box of donated lab equipment at Reservoir High School in Fulton Monday afternoon.
Around 3:45 p.m., the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Special Operations Team was called to the school to investigate hazardous materials. School had already dismissed for the day and the only people in the building were a few staff who evacuated before emergency workers arrived.
Hazmat technicians went into the school and determined the levels of radiation coming from the vial were consistent with samples used in the academic field and to calibrate radiation meters, the fire department said.
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"There are no health concerns for students or staff and the sample will be taken by an environmental cleanup contractor for disposal," the fire department said.
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