News article on toxin anxieties at Ground Zero, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

anecdotal information out there Continued from lA "Because there was absolutely that some good solid studies need no oversight on the city’s part, we to be done to confirm or deny the two apartment buildings near don't know what lurks in people’s effects being observed." Ground Zero. EPA rules require apartments or businesses," says Several studies are underway that any dust or debris containing Madelyn Wils, chairwoman of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in more than 1% asbestos be handled community’s advisory committee. New York City is examining how according to special rules, not just Wils lives six blocks from the substances such as heavy metals, swept up by homeowners. World Trade Center and suffered a PCBs, dioxins and other pollutants Though several scientists say it sore throat, laryngitis and a sinus might affect pregnant women. City appears that the levels of chem­ infection for a few months after the health offidis plan to start a r^- icals were not present in high attacks. “If you washed your walls try of those near Ground Zero dur­ enough amounts and that expo­ and didn’t clean your drapes, could ing the disaster. The Rre Depart­ sure was too minimal to cause you have asbestos on your ment is monitoring roughly 11,000 long-range concerns, many of the drapes?' she asks. “If you didn’t get firefighters and emergency tech­ rid ofyour children's toys, and they nicians who spent time at the site Cover Story have stuffed animals, could they have asbestos? Probably." for exposure to substances such as heavy metals and mercury. The In a survey of Lower Manhattan EPA also is conducting several toxins can have serious effects. by the city health department and studies on exposure and toxicity at Long-term exposure to many of other agencies in October, 34% of and near the site. these substances can cause major the 414 respondents said they did Ultimately, any potential risk health problems. Asbestos can not feel that their homes were safe might depend on the level of expo­ cause cancer. PCBs from electronic to live in. In each of three neigh­ sure and for how long. For ex­ components and benzene from borhoods profiled, roughly 80% of ample, a worker caught in the first burning jet fuel are also carcino­ those with safety concerns were toxic plume on Sept 11 might de­ gens. Dioxins, particulates released worried about air quality, and 35% velop different health problems in a Are, can be carcinogenic and of those surveyed wanted more in­ than a resident who was away but cause reproductive problems. formation about proper cleaning. returned days later to an apart­ Long-term exposure to lead can ment coated with dust. Sdentists cause neurological damage. And Testing outdoors are trying to figure out these differ- i PBDEs - a flame retardant often ent health risks. found in computers, foam padding The EPA says it has been valiant Part of what makes long-term and plastics — are likened to PCBs in sharing information, meeting health predictions so difficult is and could also be present. with various agencies, regularly that several calamities occurred at Critics also say officials have not updating its Web site and even once on Sept. 11. jet fuel exploded, done sufficient testing inside build­ maintaining a lab near Ground Ze­ office equipment melted in the ings and have failed to oversee ro The lab performs daily tests for searing nre and two skyscrapers proper cleaning of apartments and toxins and gives the results imme­ collapsed, releasing an array of businesses. Several community or­ diately to workers at the site. substances that might have com­ ganizations have conducted their “Based on our findings, and now bined in unusual ways. “So you own indoor tests and say their really more than 10,000 samples of have all sorts of things that people findings suggest that the potential a wide range of substances, we never (before) breathed all at the health risks are greater than offi­ have found no significant long­ same time, and in quantities that cials have indicated. term risk posed by the outdoor we're just not used to." Lioy says. Parents and teachers at P.S. 89 The EPA has been checking the went to court to delay last Mon­ air." EPA spokeswoman Bonnie air, drinking water and river sedi­ day’s scheduled reopening of the Bellow said last week. ments for asbestos, lead, metals. elementary school in nearby Bat­ Many ailments are likely to clear benzene, dioxin and other sub­ tery Park City. They were con­ up and can be attributed to the stances. Both federal and city offi­ cerned about the air quality and pulverized concrete and fiberglass cials say there were sporadic questioned whether the children that filled the air after the twin spikes in asbestos, particularly are ready to return to the area near towers collapsed, as well as the nght after the attacks, but the lev­ the Trade Center. School officials fires that burned at Ground Zero els have decreased over time. City are trying to work out a timetable until late December, medical ex­ health officials say lead levels have ■SWgng^able to the parents.. perts say. Though some of the sub­ not been higher than what is nor­ stances unleashed by the disaster mally seen in New Yoik City dust been slow releasing test results are known to be long-term health The EPA has taken 283 air s^ples and whether it knew its asbestos hazards, “for the most part, people since September for lead and testing might be flawed. Rep. Jer­ didn’t get a high enough or long found only five above the federal rold Nadler, D-N.Y., has accused the enough exposure for long-term EPA of maintaining a double stan­ concerns," says Paul Lipy, associate dard by cleaning its offices six director of the Environmental and blocks from Ground Zero more Occupational Health Sciences In­ thoroughly than it advised others stitute in Piscataway, N.j. to dean their buildings. — jKlds. “there’s enough On Monday, Sen. joe Lieberman, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate clean air subcommittee, will hdd a hearing in New York on downtown air quality at the request of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

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