DEP advisory to residents regarding WTC dust, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

‘ NYC DOH - Fact Sheet for Cleaning Homes Near the World Trade Center Page 1 of2

New York City Department of Health Responds to the World Trade Center Disaster

FACT SHEET FOR CLEANING HOMES NEAR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

The collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) caused a large amount of dust, soot, ash, and other building materials to enter into some homes in the surrounding area. Because work continues at the site, dust can still be a concern for some residents. Dust can irritate your eyes, nose and throat, and make it hard to breathe. Small amounts of asbestos may also be present in some of the dust in the downtown area. If you are cleaning up dusty areas, you can take steps to protect yourself and keep the dust from getting in the air. If the dust is beyond a minimal amount or beyond what you feel comfortable cleaning up on your own, seek professional cleaning companies to help.

HOW CAN I CLEAN UP DUST SAFELY?

• Proper dust cleanup will prevent dust from getting in the air again. The best way to remove dust from surfaces is to use a wet rag or wet mop (wet wiping). Sweeping the dust dry may cause it to get in the air you breathe.

• Use a high efficiency vacuum cleaner (HEPA) to clean dust from carpets, upholstery, and other materials that cannot be cleaned by wet wiping. A regular (standard) vacuum cleaner blows dust around the room. If you have already used a regular vacuum cleaner, wet wipe the area again and try to obtain a HEPA vacuum. If you do not have a HEPA vacuum, ask your building management company if they have a HEPA vacuum you can use.

• Some people report irritations from dust in the air when they clean. You can use a dust mask to protect yourself from breathing in dust while cleaning. This will reduce inhaling dust that can irritate your nose, throat and lungs.

• Practice good personal hygiene. Wash your hands before eating, drinking, and before smoking or using the bathroom.

• Dust from outdoors can be carried home on your shoes so remove them before going inside or wet wipe them.

• Put cleaning rags used for wet wiping in plastic bags while they are still wet. The rags should be washed separately from your other clothes. The rags can then be reused or thrown out in a sealed bag. Try not to let the rags dry out with dirt on them. If Ihis happens, place the dry rags in sealed bags and dispose of them, being careful not to disperse dusts.

NYC-WTC_000149237