Ohio young offenders camp has arsenic problem

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio officials say a privately run boot camp for youthful offenders has agreed to clean up unsafe levels of arsenic in its drinking water.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that the Central Ohio Boys Residential Academy failed to monitor the arsenic, which occurs naturally in the water supply. The camp in Bremen in Fairfield County must submit plans for an arsenic removal system within 30 days and will be given 90 days to install it.

The camp’s water system serves 29 people. An EPA official says it complied with the old federal standard for arsenic but not with a newer, lower limit.

Long-term exposure to arsenic is linked to various types of cancer and to damage of the lungs, heart and nervous system.