NC State re-requests federal health investigation into Poe Hall after outrage from 5 On Your Side report
North Carolina State University has re-requested an independent federal health investigation for Poe Hall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms to WRAL's 5 On Your Side.
This comes just one week after 5 On Your Side broke that N.C. State was no longer participating in a federal health investigation into Poe Hall, despite the fact that more than 100 people who worked or studied in the building on Katharine Stinson Drive reported serious illness to 5 On Your Side.
WRAL's complete coverage of Poe Hall
The story prompted a swift response from hundreds of people who wondered why N.C. State was not cooperating with an independent human health investigation into the situation.
At the time of last week’s report, the only investigation into Poe Hall was being conducted by a consulting firm, which N.C. State had hired.
The free and independent health investigation is called a Health Hazard Evaluation and can review reports of illness, conduct medical exams or collect building samples at a work site.
“The HHE program, at the request of NCSU …currently has an open HHE request concerning Poe Hall,” a spokesperson with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told 5 On Your Side.
The state health department also confirms that N.C. State is working with the federal government on this investigation.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health -- which part of the CDC -- released a statement on Thursday.
“We are waiting to hear from NIOSH on next steps, and will share any updates on the evaluation process with the community as we receive," NIOSH's statement reads.
Once a health hazard evaluation is requested, the CDC must approve it, which they did when N.C. State previously requested a health hazard evaluation last fall.
N.C. State closed Poe Hall in November 2023 after testing revealed high levels of PCBs, toxic chemicals now linked to cancer.
