EPA memorandum on wipe sampling methods for asbestos in Lower Manhattan buildings, resuspension projections, and cancer risk estimates from WTC dust exposure.
NYC-WTC_000140170–000140191Folder label: “EPA Cate Jenkins”
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NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
experimental study are given. Then, the conversion factors are estimated for WTC asbestos dusts.
Settled dust level conversion factors found from controlled study
A study was performed by Millette and Hays to provide a correlation between the level of asbestos in settled dusts and the amount which will become airborne (resuspended) as the result of certain activities. This study used real world situations of asbestos contamination, primarily after the San Francisco earthquake. Table 1 shows the experimental results, along with the calculated “K-factor”, the factor for multiplying the settled dust level by to find the air level. As can be seen, the air concentrations increase as the activity level increases.
Table 1. Resuspension K-Factors for settled asbestos dusts determined from controlled asbestos studies by Millette and Hays. ®
ACTIVITY SETTLED DUST AIR LEVEL K-FACTORS LEVEL structures/millilltBr multiply the seWed dust structures/square (s/mL) level by this number to centimeter (s/cm^) get the air level
Carpet cleaning 23,000 0.09 3.9 X 10"® (ordinary vacuum) ( 0.0000039 )
Broom Sweeping 760,000 53.6 7.1 X 10"® ( 0.000071 )
Cleaning Storage Area 870,000 2.7 3.1 X 10"® ( 0.0000031 )
Gym-Athletic Activities 9,700 0.23 2.4 X 10'® ( 0.000024 )
Cable Pull 2,000,000 26.9 1.4 X 10'® ( 0.000014 )
Resuspension factors for settled dusts from World Trade Center
The Millette and Hays study can be used to predict airborne levels of the WTC dusts. Data is available from the Ground Zero Task Force study for two apartment buildings,® Settled asbestos levels along with airborne asbestos levels were measured under passive conditions. Estimations are then made of the fraction of the settled dust which will become resuspended.
The WTC dusts are unusual in that the particles of asbestos are smaller than usually, having a greater likelihood of becoming resuspended/ This appears to be the case. The actual measured fraction of asbestos that was suspended in air over settled dusts under passive conditions (no activities taking place to stir them up) were HIGHER than measured in the Millette and Hays study when a carpet was being vacuumed. It is reasonable and prudent to predict that if the WTC dusts were being vacuumed, die resuspension factor would be higher than actually measured under passive conditions, which means they would be higher than found in the Millette and Hays study. The resuspension factor for the WTC dusts have been predicted to be 10 times higher under vacuuming conditions than under passive conditions, which is 10 times higher than found
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NYC-WTC_000140174
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NYC-WTC_000140259
Memorandum detailing procedures for asbestos wipe sampling in Lower Manhattan and estimating associated cancer risks from dust exposure.
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Technical memorandum from EPA discussing ultrasonication testing for asbestos in carpets and HEPA vacuuming effectiveness.
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Forwarded EPA memorandum dated June 9, 2002, concerning the Asbestos Reservoir and carpet testing methods.
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EPA memorandum addressing World Trade Center asbestos contamination status and agency efforts to provide information on the situation.
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Memorandum comparing asbestos data in Manhattan to other sites and arguing for cleanup under the Superfund statute.
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EPA memorandum detailing plans for asbestos wipe sampling, projecting airborne dust levels, and estimating increased cancer risks from WTC dust exposure.
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Internal tracking document for managing reports, comments, and actions related to environmental compliance cases.
23 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.994
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Draft fact sheet from DOH and DEP addressing tenant concerns regarding asbestos fibers at 105 Duane Street.
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Multi-agency discussion of benchmark reference levels for probable indoor contaminants of concern, including asbestos in air.
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Document excerpt listing counsel and staff members assigned to a paper on infrastructure related to World Trade Center recovery.
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Correspondence criticizing the EPA and DEP regarding asbestos, silica levels, and safety clearance after cleaning at 114 Liberty Street.
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NYC-WTC_000125845
Draft fact sheet from DOH and DEP addressing tenant concerns regarding asbestos fibers at 105 Duane Street.
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Table listing volatile organic compound (VOC) sampling sites and dates outside of Ground Zero from September 2001 to January 2002.
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Memorandum detailing procedures for asbestos wipe sampling in Lower Manhattan and estimating associated cancer risks from dust exposure.
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