Draft memo forwarding thread, April 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Ambient and Indoor Sampling for Public Health Evaluations of Residential Areas Near World Trade Center - Sampling Protocol

Following the WTC disaster, the New York City Department of Health working with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the New York State Department of Health conducted indoor and dust sampling in 30 residential buildings in Lower Manhattan. The sampling plan for this investigation is provided below.

Foreword - February 26.2002

This protocol was used by the New York City Department of Health in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the federal World Trade Center Environmental Assessment Working Group to conduct a limited investigation (November 4 - December 11,2001) of residential areas near and around the World Trade Center. Prior to implementing the investigation, this protocol was reviewed by members of the federal World Trade Center Environmental Assessment Working Group. Formed on September 15, 2001, the working group is made up of representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Labor. The purpose of the group is to coordinate public health and occupational sampling and data review among the three federal agencies in support of the New York City Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health. In addition, the protocol was reviewed by representatives of the New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and the New York City Department of Health. On October 26,2001, the New York City Department of Health, Institutional Review Board approved the protocol.

Sampling of the residential areas occurred from November 4 through December 11, 2001, and was conducted by U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers detailed to the New York City Department of Health with assistance from the New York City Department of Health. It is anticipated that the final report concerning this limited pilot investigation will be available in May 2002. However, the New York City Department of Health will provide participants in this investigation and the public with relevant public health information as soon as data analysis and interpretation permit. On February 8,2002, the New York City Department of Health did provide the participants with preliminary results regarding the amoimt of asbestos detected in air and settled dust. This information, along with the amount of fibrous glass detected in settled dust, was also provided to the general public.

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