WRAL reports PCBs found in 22 campus housing, library and classroom buildings

Yesterday, WRAL reporter Keely Arthur released a critical update in the toxic crisis at NC State campus, which was first revealed by the closure of Poe Hall in November 2023. In the last 7 years, the University has conducted required environmental testing ahead of renovation and demolition projects across campus, and those reports detected PCBs in 22 buildings where people live, work, and study on campus. In addition to Poe Hall and Dabney Hall, other impacted buildings include:

• Gold Hall: PCBs detected INSIDE the building above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2019. 58 people live in this dorm.

• Bowen Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2019. 131 people live in this dorm.

• Carroll Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2019. 351 people live in this dorm.

• Metcalf Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2021. 407 people live in this dorm.

• DH Hill Library: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2018.

• Harris Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2018.

• Mann Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2021.

• Scott Hall: PCBs detected on building exterior above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2018.

• 111 Lampe (formerly Daniels Hall): PCBs detected on building exterior in 2021. PCBs detected INSIDE the building above EPA hazardous waste levels in 2021.

• Greek House #7/Pi Beta Phi House (formerly Sigma Phi Epsilon): PCBs detected on building exterior in 2020. Building demolished in 2021. No indication that interior was ever tested.

• Greek House #8/ Lambda Chi Alpha House (formerly Alpha Delta Pi) PCBs detected on building exterior in 2020. Building demolished in 2021. No indication that interior was ever tested.

Read the full WRAL story here: https://www.wral.com/story/pcbs-at-nc-state-dorms-library-classroom-buildings-test-positive/21632705/

Sign and Share the Petition Today: bit.ly/NCSUPoe  

Make the University listen to us

People who worked and studied in Poe Hall had been issuing complaints and asking for environmental testing for decades before the University actually closed the building. An employee complain directly led to the building closure in 2023. We cannot wait for the Administration to act responsibly on their own. NC State administration has demonstrated repeatedly that they will only deal with on-campus environmental harms when pressured by the media, teams of lawyers, and the campus community. Three things you can do today:

1. Sign on to our petition and share it widely with your networks of alumni, colleagues, families, and peers. ANYONE who supports the cause can sign this petition.

2. Have you every lived, worked or studied in one of the buildings listed above? Or have concerns about another campus building? Complete the University’s 1-minute Environmental Health and Safety report. Flood their reporting system.

3. Become a CCAEJ Member Get  directly involved in the fight to ensure that the NC State Administration does right by the hundreds of people who are currently battling cancer and other life-altering health problems caused by the toxic environment of Poe Hall – and to ensure that no further harm is done to members of the NC State community

Keep in touch

Have you been affected by the toxic conditions in Poe Hall or other campus buildings? Do you want to join us in taking care of our campus community? Follow the Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice on Instagram or email us at [email protected].