DOH lab analysis comments, April 2, 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Routine HEPA vacuuming is certainly appropriate here.

There is no standard definition of professional cleaning, and it begs the question as to what the cleaning company did. For example, did they remove rugs and matting, HEPA vac and steam clean them and clean the floor before replacing them? This might be a best case cleaning scenario. On the other hand, did they just pass a (non-HEPA) vacuum over the rugs? These types of questions may become more prevalent as tenants begin to reflect on actions taken in their apartments by cleaning services during the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Two side points - She is requesting bulk dust testing, however if she is HEPA vacuuming every day there shouldn't be enough dust available in her apartment for a bulk sample. Also, the asbestos fiber value for the rug is presented as 42 fibers/cc, which is an airborne concentration and not a loading value.

Vin

»> Jim Miller 04/01/02 08:09PM »> Vin—Does HEPA vacuuming seem appropriate for these conditions? Is there a standard definition re what constitutes "professional cleaning"?

Mike—Does her concern for dusty common areas warrant a referral to DEP for a site visit?

»> WTC Hotline <[email protected] > 04/01/02 12:12PM »> I spoke at length this morning with a woman named Magdalena Hasiec. She lives at 400 Chambers St., apt. 4P. She has 2 young children and is concerned about their health. She re-occupied her apt in October but didn’t test her apt until February. In Feb, she hired Pure Solutions to test the dust/air for $1500, they found asbestos fibers in her rug (42 fibers/cc) she obtained a HEPA Vac and has been cleaning every day. She also had her apt professionally cleaned. She has a few issues she needed follow-up on:

1) Her landlord tested indoor air but not dust, she wants bulk dust testing (I added her address to request list) 2) She is concerned that the common areas in her building have not been adequately cleaned or tested for dust. 3) Her landlord told her that he would not replace any rugs unless she signed a release form saying that she would not sue in the event the rugs were contaminated 4) FEMA told her that in order to get funding to replace her rugs herself she needs a letter from DOH stating that the city has no authority to enforce that her landlord clean up the building or replace rugs as long as the results of the monitoring are below regulatory standards.

Her phone number is 212-233-7126. What should I tell her about the letter and whether or not to sign the release form to get her rug replaced? Thanks.

-Caroline

Lower Manhattan Air Quality Hotline 2

NYC-WTC_000138459