An air quality testing expert says potentially hazardous levels of airborne asbestos has been found at a primary school in the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands News says the quality and technician manager, Stuart Keer-Keer, for K2 Environmental Limited, found there is a risk of exposure to asbestos at Rarotonga's Avarua School.
The school was one of 11 areas Mr Keer-Keer tested for asbestos in the air and was the only area found to have levels high enough where there is a risk of exposure.
The Ministry of Education has subsequently closed Avarua School, the students of which are already on holiday, until the end of January, while further testing is done.
It's expected Mr Keer-Keer will return to Rarotonga in a few weeks after taking soil samples from Avarua School back to New Zealand for testing.
Three other areas, Avatea School, the community dental clinic in Nikao and the Cook Islands Meteorological Service office, had above normal asbestos levels, but were not high enough to be considered hazardous.
