NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
Elliot Zuckerman
Page 2
November 1, 2001
These levels-are very low and do not indicate that the combustion processes occurring at the World Trade
Center site are causing hazardous concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in the outdoor the air at North End
Avenue. The total TEQ is below the California chronic reference exposure level of 3.5 pg/m3, which is
the only standard that we have encountered to date and is based on long term exposure. Additionally, the
EPA estimates that an average daily exposure to TEQ is 119 pg/day. The major source of dioxin exposure
is diet, due to its tendency to bioaccumulate up the food chain. In other words, . a TEQ of 2 pg/day is
thought to be from inhalation exposure and the other 117 pg/day is thought to be from meat, dairy and
fish intake.
The preliminary results of the Polyaromatic hydrocarbons indicate that the levels of these individual
compounds are below their respective standards and guidelines.
Please know that we are processing the data as diligently as possible and will offer a full report in the near
future.
Should you have any questions, please call me at the above number.
Sincerely,
Signed for Ambient Gro c. by:
William A. Esposito, CIH
President
WAEJ/sfm
G:12001\Investigations\Letters\Dioxin Summary For Mercantile exchange 10,26,01.doc
NYC-WTC 000097749
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