University campus not to blame for cancer levels among staff
AN investigation has found that an Ulster University campus was not responsible for high levels of cancer among staff.
A Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) investigation found insufficient evidence that the Jordanstown campus was responsible for causing higher than average levels of cancer among the staff, the BBC reported.
The area affected was the lower part of block seven in the main Jordanstown Campus building, which housed around 35 staff working in the university’s IT department.
No students had access to the area and the university has said that no staff will be permanently based in the area going forward.
A university spokesperson said the campus is safe for staff and students.
The investigation came after a former staff member had concerns about the high level of cancer diagnoses among staff working in that area in recent years.
They then approached the NICR who carried out an investigation at the campus. Ulster University also carried out its own investigation in the area.
The NICR report concluded that cancer rates were higher than the Northern Ireland average, but found insufficient evidence that the cancer was a result of an environmental factor at the campus.
“The small number of cases and the lack of an obvious relationship between the types of cancer diagnosed suggests that any differences are more likely a result of random chance, lifestyle or genetic factors,” the report said.
Ulster University’s Director of People and Culture Damian McAlister said staff who had worked in the area were contacted to make them aware.
“We particularly think of those staff who are ill at this time and their families,” he told the BBC.
“All of those tests have returned safe results that indicate to us there are no environmental factors at this stage that we know of that would cause the cancer that has been reported in our staff.”