DEP comments on DOH press release, Feb 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

FEB-07-2002 15:43 MAYOR’S OFC of ENU. COORD 212 999 7024 P.03/04

- - Page Two - -

as cough, and irritation of the eyes, nose/and throat. The data from air quality tests thus far have been reassuring. None of the testing to date has shown results tha would indicate long-term health impacts. However, conclusive scientific knowledge about the potential health hazards of some substances is not available.”

“DOH recognizes residents’ concerns and will continue to work closely with local. State and Federal agencies to monitor air quality and to inform the public of findings as soon as results are available. The City Departments of Health and Mental Health are addressing residents’ mental health concerns by promoting the ongoing Project Liberty program, a Statewide disaster-recovery initiative that offers free crisis counseling, education, and referral services to anyone affected by the World Trade Center disaster (l-800-LIFENET}/I-Dr. Frieden continued.

“Additionally, DOH has been working witnlTSTCenters for Disease Control^did Prevention (CDC) to develop a protocol for a World Trade Center Registry, which, if fun^, would generate and maintain a database that can be used as a basis for conducting studies provide a more complete picture of short- and long-term health and mental health impacts among the affected populations,” Dr. Frieden concluded.

What Was Sampled At the request of DOH, ATSDR inducted tests i S9 apartments in ) geographically representative buildings in lower Mai lattan in NovemJ and December 2001 Testing was also conducted in four buildings above 5 Street not infl lacted by migrating di I from the World Trade Center site to provide inform: ion on the background level of various substances present indoors in New York City. Using w accepted isting methods, the agency looked for several materials that are common building components -d could potentially cause short and long-term health problems. Each set of tests included samples air and fe^ttied dust, and these samples were analyzed for fiber-like materials - asbestos, fibipus glass - and for other particles including silica, gypsum, mica, and calcite. Additional info: katii about the indoor testing initiative is available on the DOH Web site at nyc.gov/health. No Acorn] hensive report on this testm^will be available this spring. Final wst results on substances other asbestos will be released t\ the public as soon as they become available. Results of outdoL sampling since September 11 air, water, and dust - including’asbestos and particulate matter ■e posted on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, epa.gov, and can also be found on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) website at nyc.gov/dep. WTC-related information can also be found nyc.gov/health.

Health Information about Asbestos and Fiberglass Exposure to asbestns is associated with asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) and cancer. The risk developing tl.Yse diseases depends on the level (aiaeanv and d»4eegtii‘-of4hne*cxpe>sed-(duration^i1*^op The likelihood of developing disease from limited, short-term, low-level exposure is low. There no reliable test that can indicate whether an individual has had low-level exposures to asbestos. In the occupational setting, where the duration and intensity of asbestos exposure can be greater, there is a higher risk to workers^^orkers at the WTC site need to use tfee-ewee^rotective equipment to «duc. exposure. . Of) - - More -'

NYC-WTC_000147455