Draft potential asbestos questions and answers document, Mar 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Department of Labor (NYSDOL) who employs New York State and/or City Certified Asbestos Abatement Handlers and Supervisors to remove asbestos debris. Ask to see the New York State and City certificate with photo identification of each worker and supervisor. Call the NYSDOL at (212) 352-6000 to confirm that the contractor is licensed. Also check the NYCDEP web site: www.nyc.gov/dep. And, make sure that your contract states that the work will be performed in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.

8) Do I need to be worried about asbestos in the air? Destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings released large amounts of dust and ash, some of which contained trace amounts of asbestos. Based on the asbestos air test results to date, the risk of disease from asbestos exposure in the community near the WTC is very low. Experts believe that the levels of exposure to asbestos are low enough that the likelihood of developing disease from the limited, short-term exposures associated with the WTC incident is very small.

For people working and/or living in the surrounding area, DEP issued guidance to building management or the building owner on what must be done to deem a building safe for re-occupancy. These DEP guidelines are still in effect. The NYCDOH issued cleaning guidance for residents of buildings that were deemed to be safe for re-occupancy. This information can be found at the NYC DOH website: nyc.gov/health

While the risk for asbestos-related illness is thought to be very low, residents should take clean-up precautions to further reduce any urmecessary exposure: wet wipe and mop dusty surfaces using a HEPA-filtered vacuum, if possible; remove shoes before entering your home to reduce tracking dust indoors. These reasonable precautions should be taken until the demolition and clean-up at the WTC has been completed.

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