DEP advisory to residents regarding WTC dust, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document NYC Recommendations for Motorists in th...cted by the World Trade Cotter Disaster httpyAvww.nyc.gov^t^)l/doh/htm]/alertsZwtc7J)tl

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

Recommendations for Motorists in the Area Affected by the World Trade Center Disaster.

This Useful Information was Provided to the New York City Department of Health by the American Automobile Association

Motorists living near the World Trade Center disaster site will face some challenges getting their cars going after being subjected to the extreme levels of dust, dirt and soot in the area. The following tips are suggested:

• Before starting the vehicle try to clean it as thoroughly as possible. Using a hose or repeated uses of a bucket, douse the vehicle with water to remove as much standing dirt as possible. Do not use a rag, brush or any scrubbing action. These will grind the abrasive dirt into the paint, ruining it. Only the physical action of the moving water should be used to remove heavy dirt. Then use very soapy water to wash the car. When clean, swirling patterns may be noticed in the finish if the vehicle was subjected to very heavy exposure. A professional compound job available at most auto shops should restore the luster.

• Inspect the vehicle’s interior for heavy dust and dirt. If it was badly exposed, before starting the vehicle, vacuum the interior thoroughly, paying extra attention to the dashboard and vents, particularly if the vehicle is a ’98 or newer model. New cars have lots of computer and electronic devices for controlling various functions located behind the dash drat could be damaged by heavy dust. (For this reason owners of newer vehicles should not smoke in their cars.)

• Inspect the engine compartment under the hood of the vehicle. If it is very dusty, vacuum this area as well, paying close attention to fire air intake, which can usually be identified as a bellows type of hose. If possible, discormect the hose and vacuum it.

• If the vehicle received extremely heavy exposure, after vacuuming you should change the air filter taking care not to dislodge any remaining dirt so that the engine might be contaminated. Inspect hoses, belts and pulleys for dirt and try to clean them as much as possible.

• Check the oil and coolant level before starting the engine. Also make sure the battery’s terminals are clean. Dirty terminals create extra resistance, putting more strain on the battery, which could be low since the vehicle has not run for some time.

• Check tire pressure and add air if necessary, according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.

• When starting the vehicle, do not race the engine. Let it idle about five minutes. Observe the

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