Asbestos testing summary letter, Feb 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document 02/20/2002 09:32 FAX l 072

THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH M1 h*ci R. 8loamberg Thomas R. Prtedcxi, MD,MPH finer

February 8, 2002 Building Owner and Residents 100 John Street New York, NY 10038

Dear Building Owner and Residents,

As part of an ongoing effort to assess potential environmental impacts the World Trade Center (WTC), the New York City Department of following the collapse of Health (DOH), with the assistance of local and federal agencies, conducted asbestos testing in Manhattan. This letter explains the results of the asbestos testing some residences in lower building. As you will see in the attachment, the levels of asbestosconducted in and around your in and around your building were within standards set for indoor air quality'. In the near fixture, you will be receiving the complete results of testing for other substances and particulate matter in your building. Asbestos and other building materials were released during the WTC one of approximately 30 residences tested by the DOH, the U.S. collapse. Your building was Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the lower Manhattan area for asbestos and other building materials. Additionally, for baseline comparisons, DOH tested a small number of residences above 59s' Street to determine normal background levels of asbestos and other building indoor air. materials present in

Asbestos was found at low levels in the dust in your building; these levels were Air sampling results were similar to the levels found in the within standards. comparison buildings. Since low levels of asbestoswere found in the dust, even though they were not at levels requiring asbestos abatement, we continue to recommend that cleaning be conducted using appropriate methods while work continues at the WTC site. These or wet wiping and mopping of hard surfaces and using methods, such as damp vacuum cleaners equipped with a REPA filter, will help prevent dust from getting into the air. Dry dusting, sweeping with a broom, or using a vacuum without a HEPA filter should be avoided.

Testing was also conducted in and around your building for other materials used in the WTC construction (e.g., fiberglass, silica, and other minerals). These materials may and throat irritation. Persons with existing respiratory conditions cause eye, nose, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema may find that their symptoms are exacerbated when they are exposed to these substances in the air. Since work continues at the World Trade Center site, we recommend

` New York City Department of Environmental Protection asbestos clearance criteria (Ru1c of the City of New York, Title 13, Chapter 1) for post-abatement work

NYC-WTC 000123869