NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
to 180,000 ppb; 10 were reported in units of ppbv, ranging from an MDL of 20 ppbv to
83,000 ppbv; and 21 were reported in units of ug/m3, ranging from an MDL of 2 ug/m3 to 280
ug/m3. Of the 238 air samples, 142 were positively detected for benzene, with results ranging
from 0.81 ppb to 180,000 ppb.
• The air samples included 5 Quality Assurance (QA) blanks, all of which showed results of
non-detect, below the MDL of 20 ppb.
The 4 minican and 3 PAM benzene samples were collected between September 22th and
September 27`" by OENHP inside the cabs of heavy equipment operators operating directly
on the rubble pile. There was one positive detect for these samples at 7 ppbv on September
23`a. The other results were non-detect below the MDLs (minican MDL 5 ppbv, PAM MDL
0.2 mg/m3). There were no other data from personal monitoring samples in the database to
compare with the TAGA results.
The 14 drinking water samples were collected on September 15' from various locations
surrounding the WTC. All results were non-detect for benzene, below the MDL of 1 ug/L.
Benzene is still being sporadically detected at significant levels from the WTC North Tower
and South Tower sites, with high spikes observed within the first two weeks of November. All
evidence indicates the burning rubble pile is the source, although the specific materials that are
leading to its release are unknown. Benzene and other VOCs are also present in fuel and engine
emissions which may be a contributing factor.
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