The number of brain tumor cases among staff in Kansas University’s Wescoe Hall during the past five years was just coincidental, a study concluded.

“The cause of the brain tumors is unknown,” said Dr. John Neuberger, epidemiologist at KU’s School of Medicine, who led a team of researchers who spent a year studying the 34-year-old, 203,000-square-foot building and whether it posed health risks.

The study was launched after an employee in the building expressed concern about the number of brain tumor diagnoses during the past decade among people who had offices in close proximity.

Neuberger and other members of the research team met with about a dozen current and former staff members Friday afternoon in Wescoe Hall. Copies of the 21-page report were made available. The report also can be found on KU’s Web site, www.ku.edu.

The study recommended replacing the building’s air-handling systems. Air tests in spring 2006 detected some low levels of formaldehyde, but the building was found to be environmentally safe. A $3 million project to replace the air system on Wescoe’s first three floors has begun and will continue into 2009.

The inadequate airflow system didn’t cause brain tumors, Neuberger said. But it could cause respiratory problems and eye irritation.

Betty Banks, a retired associate professor of classics, said she and other former staff members weren’t getting their hopes up about getting the system fixed because former attempts have been made.

“There have been so many tries before and it was an in-house operation,” she said. “It was going to be a rare day when the university said it allowed people to live and work in substandard conditions for 30 years.”

Steve Scannell, an architect in KU’s design and construction management, said the building’s intake air duct was half the size it should be. He said the duct system had been modified sometime in the 1980s to conserve energy.

Don Steeples, vice provost for scholarly support, said the work on the airflow system will cause considerable disruption and some personnel will have to move to other offices. About 600 people have offices in Wescoe.

“We’re going to have to evacuate at least half a floor and possibly a full floor at a time,” he said. “This is going to be a fairly good challenge.”