Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

airborne asbestos in apartment building expected to have WTC dust contamination. Further, the study found that asbestos levels in both buildings exceeded the AHERA standard of 70 s/mm2:

• Asbestos concentrations ranged from 6,277 to 10,620 s/nim2 in the building expected to experience significant WTC dust contamination.

• Asbestos concentrations ranged from 141 to 379 s/mm2 in the building not expected to experience significant WTC dust contamination.

“Health Risks from Exposures to Asbestos and Inorganic Metals Due to Collapse of the World Trade Center.'’ The results of the aforementioned “Characterization of Particulate Found in Apartments After Destruction of the World Trade Center” study were analyzed by a consultant for the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force to address possible health risks to residents and workers from exposure to the levels of inorganic metals and asbestos contamination found in the study.

“Final Report of the Public Health Investigation to Assess Potential Exposures to Airborne and Settled Surface Dust in Residential Areas in Lower Manhattan, NYCDOH, and ATSDR.’’^ This was the largest study in terms of buildings analyzed and was conducted by ATSDR and NYCDOH. The final report was issued in September 2002. The study collected dust and air samples in and around 30 residential buildings (encompassing 59 apartment units) in Lower Manhattan, along with 4 buildings north of 59* Street for comparison purposes. Of the 59 apartments sampled, 50 - or 85 percent - had been reportedly cleaned (professionally or otherwise) prior to ATSDR’s sampling.

The study concluded that the increased risk of cancer or other adverse lung health effects from prolonged exposure to WTC dust was greater than 1-in-10,000 forthose areas sampled. This risk was based on several worst-case scenario assumptions. These worst-case assumptions were that apartments tested would not be cleaned after sampling, all fibers detected were asbestos, and the levels detected in the study represented long-term levels. The report noted that for individuals who frequently clean their apartments using HEPA vacuums and damp cloths/mops or take part in the EPA cleaning program, it was unlikely their exposure would resemble worst-case conditions. The report noted that when evaluating the health risks from indoor contamination, it did not take into account the potential effects of high doses of dust, fibers, and other materials that people in the WTC area at the time of the attacks may have experienced. The report noted these exposures could add to the public’s risk of long-term health effects.

19 Dr. E.B. Ilgren, MD, MA, D Phil, October 11,2001. 20 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, as part of the World Trade Center Environmental Assessment Workgroup, September 2002. 98 Report No. 2003-P-00012

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