DEP comments on DOH press release, Feb 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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

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as cough, and irritation of the eyes, nose/fod throat. The data from air quality tests thus far have been reassuring. None of the testing tc date has shown results that 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 tu 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 affect^by the World Trade Center disaster (1-800-LIFEN^X^Uk. Frieden continued.

“Additionally, DOH has been working witIW?57Centers for Disease Control alW Prevention (CDC) to develop a protocol for a World Trade Center Registry, which, if funded, would generate and maintain a database that can be used as a basis for conducting studie^ provide a more complete picture of short- and long-term health and mental health impacts among the affected populations,” Dr. Frieden concluded. <'"7^777^

What Was Sampled At the request of DOH, ATSDR sonducted tests i I 59 apartments in 30 geographically representative buildings in lower Mi attan in NovemKe ' and December 2001. (Testing was also conducted in four buildings above S?*** Street not i: ited by migrating dus^from the World Trade Center site to provide informaion on the background level of various substances present indoors in New York City. Using accepted Zesting methods, the agency looked for several materials that are common building components -ot could potentially cause short and long-term health problems. Each set of tests included samples 4 air and Ze^settled dust, and these samples were analyzed for fiber-like materials - asbestos, fib }US glass - and for other particles including silica, gypsum, mica, and calcite. Additional infor katic about the indoor^jesting^^^^^e is available on the DOH Web site at nyc^ov/health. lOCI A comprehensive report on this testinawill be available this spring. Final results on substances other than asbestos will be released t\ the public as soon as they become available. Results of outdoor sampling since September 11 air, water, and dust - including'asbestos and particulate matter’are posted on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, epa.gpv, 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/heBlth.

Health Information about Asbestos and Fiberglass Exposure to asbestos is associated with asbestosis (sc: ig of the lungs) and cancer. The risk ofz---- developing these diseases depends on the level and Ae-le»gdroftinie<»p®fie4-{duration^r^ci{- I 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 workersj^orkers at the WTC site need to use Ae-ewee^rotective equipment to reduce exposire. •fl - - More -'

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