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Environmental testing update

March 21, 2025

Dear Maroons,

I am writing to provide an update on the environmental testing that has taken place at Roanoke College over the last nine months. As you know, we voluntarily initiated this testing last year out of an abundance of caution after an online magazine article implied, without evidence, that there is a link between cancer cases in young alumni and the time they spent at Roanoke College. 

In early December 2024, we held a community information meeting to share the first round of results from testing conducted by Environmental Consulting Services Mid-Atlantic (ECS), a national firm that is accredited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those tests revealed no systemic ongoing environmental concerns at Roanoke College. A summary of those results can be found in a statement posted to our Community Messages page on Dec. 5, 2024.

Since that time, we have continued to partner with ECS for (1) retesting of facilities to determine the effectiveness of remediation efforts, and (2) additional testing on our main campus and the Elizabeth Campus. This additional testing also revealed no systemic ongoing environmental concerns at Roanoke College. 

“In summarizing the environmental testing and remediation that ECS and others have been performing for the college over the past nine months, the results of the most current testing has demonstrated that the contaminants of concern have been mitigated or have been deemed to not be a concern,” said Chris Chapman, director of Industrial Hygiene Services at ECS. “No further action is required.” 

Follow-up Radon Testing

ECS’s initial round of radon testing last year included hundreds of samples collected from both residential and academic buildings on the main campus. Samples from five locations (Trout, Miller, Marion, Ritter and Blue Ridge) came back at or slightly above the EPA action level. None of the results were high enough for ECS to recommend immediate action; nevertheless, the college chose to install radon mitigation systems in those buildings. 

ECS has retested those locations, and only one location was found to still have a radon level that is marginally above the EPS action level. That location within Marion Hall is used as a storage closet. As this location is not continuously occupied, it has not been identified as a danger to our community. However, ECS and the college will continue to work with the remediation contractor to correct the elevated reading in that storage closet.

Follow-up Sub-slab Vapor Testing

ECS recommended remedial action only in Bartlett and Chalmers halls. As a reminder, the calculation that ECS uses to assess whether remediation is needed has been established by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and is extremely conservative, as it assumes daily exposure to the chemicals over the course of an average lifetime (70 years). Nevertheless, Roanoke College opted to install sub-slab depressurization systems in both buildings, and ECS follow-up testing determined that the systems are working. No further action was required or recommended, per ECS.

Additional Sub-slab Vapor Testing

In addition to the first round of testing on the main campus, ECS conducted a new round of sub-slab vapor testing at Lucas Hall, Life Science Hall, Trexler Hall, College Hall, Morehead Hall, Residential Life and Massengill Auditorium. Samples were submitted to an independent laboratory for analysis. Fifteen samples were collected and tested for 65 individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the testing and risk calculations did not detect any VOCs that pose a health risk to our community. No further action was required or recommended, per ECS.

Elizabeth Campus Testing

Roanoke College also asked ECS to conduct a full slate of testing on the Elizabeth Campus, which included testing for lead in drinking water, radon and volatile organic compounds in sub-slab vapor (VOCs). These tests were conducted at Elizabeth Hall, Kappa Alpha (Crabtree), Pi Kappa Alpha (Kime), Pi Lambda Phi (Markley) and Sigma Chi (McClanahan). The company used the same very conservative standard EPA risk assessment modeling procedures for this testing that were used on the main campus testing.

Water samples were collected from drinking fountains, kitchen/lounge sinks and bathroom sinks, and 90% of the samples were below the EPA action level. The 10 locations where samples came back above the action level had their fixtures replaced and retested. A few of those samples remained elevated after testing, and those locations were marked non-potable or completely removed from service. No further action was required or recommended, per ECS.

Regarding radon, only two locations (both at Elizabeth Hall) were found to be at or slightly above the EPA action level. Although none of those spaces are regularly occupied and ECS did not recommend remediation, Roanoke College chose to install a radon remediation system at Elizabeth Hall. Follow-up test results remained marginally elevated. As those two areas in Elizabeth Hall are currently vacant, the college will continue to work with ECS and the remediation contractor to correct the radon level at that location. The rooms will remain vacant until such time as test results come back with radon levels that are below the EPA action level. No further action was required or recommended, per ECS.

Regarding VOCs on the Elizabeth Campus, sub-slab vapor testing and risk calculations did not reveal any VOCs that exceed their risk threshold; therefore, no further action was required or recommended, per ECS. 

Moisture Testing and Remediation

As noted in our Dec. 5 testing summary statement, the college had ECS conduct an initial mold and moisture assessment at Trout and Miller halls and the Administration Building – three of the oldest buildings on campus. All three buildings were observed to have moisture intrusion problems, which ranged from window and roof leaks to aging mechanical systems such as HVAC. 

ECS has been working with Roanoke College and other specialists, including architects and engineers, to establish short- and long-term measures to identify and correct water intrusion problems. The college is committed to investing in the upkeep and enhancement of our campus facilities, and the following measures have been taken or are planned:

  • AprilAire dehumidification systems were installed in Miller Hall and the Administration Building, with Trout to follow.
  • An outside contractor was hired to re-insulate the HVAC pipes in Miller to eliminate condensation. The contractor also has tested and replaced any malfunctioning condensate pumps.
  • Also in Miller, a contractor was hired to professionally test and, if necessary, replace old caulk in areas identified to have possible moisture penetration.
  • The college will monitor moisture levels in Miller and, if the above actions do not sufficiently ensure normal humidity levels, a contractor will be engaged to remove all soil on the North exterior of the building to expose the wall down to the footers. At that time, the contractor will evaluate the condition of the exterior brick and professionally seal the walls as conditions demand.
  • Over the summer, all carpeting in classrooms and common areas of Miller will be replaced.
  • In the Administration Building, the college has engaged an outside contractor to seal the crawlspace with moisture barriers. This work will be completed as soon as possible within the contractor’s schedule.
  • In the Administration Building and in Trout, the college has engaged a professional masonry contractor to inspect, re-point and seal all areas of the brick facade that require it.
  • The College has engaged an outside contractor, the Garland Company, to complete a college-wide roof assessment to identify any necessary repairs or replacements.

The college will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of this work and will take all necessary further actions to ensure that moisture levels remain within normal ranges.

At Roanoke College, nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our community, and I appreciate the interest our community has shown in this process. I hope these results will reassure Maroons that our college continues to be a safe and caring place to live, work and learn. I will provide further updates on our Community Messages page as we continue this work.

Sincerely yours,

Frank Shushok, Jr., Ph.D.
President