NC State's Poe Hall will remain closed into spring semester

“Our preliminary surface tests primarily identified levels of Aroclor 1262,” wrote Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden and Executive Vice Chancellor Charles Maimone in a letter addressed to the N.C. State community.

Aroclor 1262 is a type of PCB. High levels of PCBs are linked to cancer cases, and their use was banned in the United States in the late 1970s. However, PCBs are commonly found all over the world, according to Larry Engel, a professor and epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Several current and former employees and students confirm they are struggling with a wide range of health issues including cancer and immune disorders.

Records: NC State knew of toxic chemical concerns inside Poe Hall months before closing building

In the same statement, Arden and Maimone provided more information on the timeline of their investigation.

It informed the N.C. State community that concerns about indoor air quality were received in August, and tests for asbestos and heavy metals were conducted.

“All were within acceptable limits,” the letter stated.

However, the university did not collect samples for PCB testing until October and November, according to the letter.

“These preliminary tests are limited,” the letter stated. The university is in the process of engaging an outside consultant to conduct more comprehensive environmental testing to better understand the environment in the building, according to the letter.

NC State began collecting cancer case data weeks before shutting down Poe Hall, emails show

The university announced that Poe Hall will not be open at the start of the spring semester and that it is actively looking for a replacement space.

To address the criticism it has faced from staff, students, and parents for the lack of information, including refraining to share specific details for two weeks following the initial announcement, the university stated: “We recognize that not having a full picture of the situation may add to the uncertainty and anxiety some are feeling. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to better determine the impacts of our initial findings.”

When asked about the risk of exposure to what was detected in Poe Hall, the university declined to answer. The university also mentioned that it will not test any other university buildings for PCBs.