Poe Hall environmental testing results released Thursday evening reported that for each of the 14 indoor air samples collected in December 2023, all results for PCBs were below EPA exposure levels for school indoor air environments.
The report said PCB Aroclor-1262 — the PCB compound the University detected in preliminary testing that warranted investigation — was detected “at concentrations that were generally very low and almost entirely below USEPA exposure levels and thresholds.”
One surface wipe sample, collected from a windowsill in room 300D, an office, had a PCB concentration above the EPA threshold. All other surface wipe samples measured PCB concentrations below the EPA threshold.
The samples were collected with the HVAC system turned off. PCB concentrations were generally higher on floors three through seven of the building, which the report says is consistent with the HVAC circulation zones.
The report said higher detection frequencies of PCBs were observed on certain surfaces, including windowsills, desks and elevator buttons. Lower detection frequencies were observed on surfaces such as tables, shelves and bathroom counters.
An update on the Poe Hall information website from Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden and Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Charles Maimone said NC State received the report late Thursday afternoon. The update said the next phase of testing will be with the HVAC system turned on, and it will also entail a review of the building materials to identify potential sources.
The update also said NC State chose the environmental consulting firm Geosyntec Consultants because of its toxicology expertise.
“We have asked Geosyntec to conduct a more detailed analysis of potential human health effects associated with exposure,” it said.
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