Federal Cuts Halt Health Evaluation at NC State's Poe Hall

A federal health hazard evaluation of NC State University's Poe Hall has been halted due to significant workforce reductions at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), resulting from federal budget cuts. The investigation was intended to assess whether exposure to toxic PCBs found in Poe Hall was responsible for reported health issues, including cancer, among faculty, staff, and students. This closure affects not only Poe Hall but also halts all similar health hazard evaluations across North Carolina, leaving the campus community without federal insight into ongoing environmental health concerns. Despite this setback, university officials assure the community that remediation and cleanup efforts will continue, with updates provided as available. Poe Hall has remained closed since late 2023 after PCBs were detected during environmental testing. The loss of the NIOSH evaluation is seen as a major obstacle in addressing and clarifying health risks for those impacted by the building's contamination.