Frequently asked questions and updates regarding disaster assistance, road reopenings, and victim support funds issued in October 2001.
NYC-WTC_000148115–000148190Folder label: “Q and A FAQ”
OCR status: ok · source: pdftotext
NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Air Quality Following the World Trade Center Disaster
Iliveand/dr work downtown. Do I need to be concerned about the air I’m breathing? Numerous federal, state and local agencies (including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health and the New York City Departments of Environmental Protection and Health) have been working together to monitor air quality within NYC and around the disaster area since 9/11/01 and will continue throughout the period that the work area is being cleaned. Additional monitors are being set up to obtain further information.
Following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, significant quantities of smoke and dust were released into the air. The plume of smoke contained dust, ash, soot and other burning materials present at the site. Other hazardous materials released into the air include materials such as concrete, gypsum, plastics and fiberglass dusts as well as soot that were released during the explosion and collapse of the towers. From a health perspective, the substances of Concern include asbestos and fine airborne particles. Therefore, air tests, to date, have focused on assessing levels of these substances.
Testing since 9/11/01 has revealed that, in general, levels of asbestos and fine airborne particles have been low. Until the WTC area has been cleaned up, air quality will need to be monitored.
What are the most immediate health concerns? Irritating dusts and gases can worsen medical conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, other chronic lung conditions and heart disease. Airborne irritants might also trigger an asthma attack in people who may be susceptible, but who have not had an asthma attack before. The most important concern is however, exposure to asbestos.
What is asbestos and what are its potential health effects? Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber that r resistant to heat. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of manufactured products including building materials such as fireproofing. Asbestos was used in the
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NYC-WTC_000147982
A project proposal outlining the timeline, methods, and justification for cleaning HVAC systems in residential units affected by World Trade Center dust.
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Department of Environmental Protection advisory letter dated October 25, 2001, addressed to residents of Lower Manhattan.
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Q&A sheet detailing procedures for assessing debris in ventilation systems and required abatement actions.
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Guidance document explaining requirements for HVAC cleaning and asbestos abatement regulations for building owners.
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Guidance document explaining requirements for HVAC cleaning and asbestos abatement regulations for building owners.
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Joint announcement of a comprehensive plan by the EPA and city partners to address indoor air quality concerns in residential units south of Canal Street.
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Internal memo draft addressed to the Commissioner regarding environmental compliance actions and correspondence drafts dated October 15, 2001.
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Q&A document advising landlords on HVAC filter changes and asbestos assessment requirements following the disaster.
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Notice from NYC Law Department instructing staff to preserve World Trade Center documents for potential legal actions.
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NYC-WTC_000147452
Internal memo providing corrections and additions to a draft Department of Health press release regarding air sampling.
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NYC-WTC_000148742
Notice instructing staff to preserve original World Trade Center documents for potential legal actions against the City.
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NYC-WTC_000142595
Informational document explaining how to identify fiberglass contamination in homes and associated health risks.
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NYC-WTC_000142598
Webpage content discussing the health hazards of fiberglass insulation and criticizing industry research practices.
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Joint announcement of a comprehensive plan by the EPA and city partners to address indoor air quality concerns in residential units south of Canal Street.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer