Malibu divided over fears of toxic chemical cover-up in public school

Sunshine still glints off the surf, and the name continues to evoke a certain kind of paradise but, to many residents, it feels as if poison has snaked into Malibu. This rugged outpost of Los Angeles, a colony of canyons and beaches famous for the celebrities who call it home, is reeling from claims of toxic pollution, corruption and cover-up.

The row revolves around Malibu High School, a public, three-school campus where students scored high SAT scores, staged plays, rode horses and played soccer and water polo. Some parents and teachers, and at least one official, believe the grounds and buildings are contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals - and that big money interests are suppressing the truth to avoid scrutiny of other schools across the United States.

"It's a disaster. It doesn't feel like Malibu here, it feels like southern Italy," said Heiko Schmidt, a music industry executive and entrepreneur with two daughters at the school, which has also taught the children of Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford and other Hollywood figures.

Some parents, including model Cindy Crawford, are teaching their children at home. Others have set up a micro-school at a nearby university. Activists have asked the environmental crimes section of the Los Angeles county district attorney's office to investigate.

Tensions over the school have soured friendships in the 13,000-strong community. One side thinks children are at risk from complacent, if not corrupt, officials and naive parents; the other thinks conspiracy theorists are causing needless disruption.

The story broke last October when 20 faculty members wrote a letter expressing alarm that three teachers had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, another three had thyroid problems and seven suffered migraines. They pointed the finger at the removal in 2011 of 777 cubic metres of soil allegedly contaminated with toxic chemicals, notably polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), which were used decades ago to tackle termites. Dozens of parents came forward to report children with respiratory problems.