Greek Life officials recently discovered an unknown, potentially harmful material in the Theta Xi fraternity house’s attic. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

The material has not been tested, and its identification cannot be confirmed, but none of the residents living in the house are at risk, according to David Wallace, coordinator for Greek housing programs.

Following this discovery, the Greek Life Office (GLO) took air samples of the living areas to ensure that the house’s residents were not in danger and hired a contractor to contain the area and extract the material. An air quality test came back negative.

“We don’t know [if] it’s dangerous, but we’re treating it as we would if it was asbestos,” Wallace said. “We decided it was better to just remove it.”

Wallace said the work will take five to seven days and will “have little to no impact on the men living inside the chapter house.”

Theta Xi, located on the Upper Fraternity Row, is home to 16 fraternity brothers housed in its 15 bedrooms.

Theta Xi brothers, according to Wallace, were initially concerned about their safety and were provided alternative living options should they feel that they were exposed to hazardous material.

“The air-quality test put them at a lot more ease,” Wallace said.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be toxic or carcinogenic when inhaled in high concentrations over a long period of time. The Environmental Protection Agency issued a ban and phase-out on asbestos in 1989, which was overturned by a ruling in 1991.