WRAL 5 On Your Side has independently received 101 reports of cancer and over a dozen reports of serious illnesses from individuals who spent time in Poe Hall. The building was home to North Carolina State University’s College of Education and Psychology Department and closed in November after high levels of PCBs, toxic chemicals linked to cancer, were found.
In response to the reports, several NC State employees have written to NC State leadership and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, urging an investigation into the cases of cancer and serious illnesses. However, both entities have declined for now, with the university stating its focus on an environmental study of the building.
The situation dates back to November 2023, when Poe Hall closed and the NC Department of Health and Human Services recommended that NC State request a Health Hazard Evaluation. The university complied, but in January 2024, the federal investigation conducted by The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was called off, leading to a dispute over who was responsible for the decision.
The CDC confirmed two separate Health Hazard Evaluation requests regarding Poe Hall, one from NC State and one from a group of employees who worked in the building. However, NIOSH couldn’t conduct either without NC State’s involvement. The university has disputed the CDC’s statement that it withdrew from the evaluation.
NC State has maintained that it was focused on an environmental investigation of Poe Hall, with NIOSH ultimately choosing to close the Health Hazard Evaluation. The university is currently testing the building and has hired a consulting firm to conduct the investigation.
As the situation continues, NC State employees and students have continued to push for faster action, with some calling for a vote of no confidence for university leaders due to concerns about communication and transparency. NC State says it may investigate the health of those who worked and studied in Poe Hall later, once the results of the environmental study are available.
In the meantime, the ongoing investigation into Poe Hall has raised concerns about the health and safety of those who spent time in the building, leading to calls for further action and transparency from university leadership. With the situation still in flux, it remains to be seen how NC State will address the concerns raised by its employees and students.
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