Federal study confirms Poe Hall toxic chemicals, but doesn't provide definitive cancer link
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A new national study on the health risks at Poe Hall at NC State has been released. Poe Hall was closed down in 2023, after testing found dangerous PCB chemicals that led to multiple students and staff connected to Poe Hall to report getting sick, including cancer.
The new study, which began in 2024 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety, conducted its health hazard evaluation so NC State could get a better idea of the environment at Poe Hall.
It found that among employees of Poe Hall that were studied, female workers had double the expected rate of melanoma among female employees, and a slightly higher rate of breast cancer.
It also confirmed PCB chemicals on surfaces and in the air from samples collected between 2018 and 2024, but wouldn't directly blame the higher cancer rates on it, because cancer takes time to develop.
"There's some limitations with that in terms of, like, you know, what, if someone gets cancer when they've moved out of state, and they're not registered with a North Carolina cancer registry or they have something like an autoimmune disease or something, a non-cancer life-altering illness caused by PCBs," said Chelsea Lunquist-Wentz, an N.C. State grad student with the Community Alliance for Environmental Justice.
Their group has been pushing for more accountability from NC State's administration about Poe Hall.
"We have concerns about other buildings on campus that people are using right now. And that's a really urgent issue that I hope that this, these studies, this information coming out about Poe Hall brings to light the opportunity to make sure that other buildings don't cause similar situations, that we aren't putting more people in harm right now."
Meanwhile, NC State responded to the new study, saying in a statement, "Although the report's results do not confirm causation, employees are encouraged to discuss the report's findings with their physicians to discuss personal risk factors.
Many of us are intimately acquainted with the difficult journey of battling health concerns. Our thoughts and support continue for anyone currently going through treatment and for those who have endured serious health challenges."
NC State also has its own lawsuit against Monsanto, hoping to hold the company behind the PCB chemicals accountable for the building materials used at Poe Hall.
