The investigation into a possible cancer cluster at Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health will continue after the air quality inspection came back clean.
UNC Health asked state and federal health officials for help to investigate a possible cluster of cancer cases tied to its clinical laboratory in January after it was notified of four current employees and up to a dozen former staff members who had been diagnosed with cancer over the last two decades.
On Jan. 23, the state Department of Health and Human Services Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch conducted an onsite visual inspection and indoor air quality investigation of the lab. The report said no issues suggesting air quality concerns were found.
The system is following up with the agency to see whether there are other possible causes for concern beyond air quality in the building, according to a Feb. 7 announcement from UNC Hospitals. The system is collecting requested documents such as spill logs and building blueprints, as well as conducting an assessment for a few teammates who came forward with cancer concerns. The assessment is also available for teammates to share details of present or past cancer diagnosis.
The agency has not provided a timetable for completion of the investigation.
"We want to acknowledge the uneasiness this assessment may cause for some of our teammates," the system said. "Not having firm information and timelines can even feel frustrating. We remain committed to sharing information as it becomes available."