NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
other methodological interference. Therefore, these data will only be considered
semiquantitatively and should be considered estimated values, noted by the‘T’ qualifier.
Quartz, calcite, portlandite, and gypsum were the most abundant minerals detected (see
Table 7). Mica was detected with less frequency than the other minerals, and generally
estimated at approximately 0.1 %J of the dust. Halite (salt) was also detected at trace
levels.
Quartz was detected in all 14 outdoor dust
samples, 21 of the 26 common area samples,
and only 30 of the 57 samples from Mineral components of concrete
residences in lower Manhattan. Neither (quartz calcite, and portlandite) and
cristobalite nor tridymite, other forms of other building materials (gypsum,
crystalline silica, were found in any of the mica, and halite) in the indoor settled
settled surface dust samples. For this surface dust ofsome areas of lower
discussion quartz will refer to the alpha- Manhattan were estimated at higher
quartz form of crystalline silica. Levels of percentages than for the comparison
quartz were estimated as from 0.05%J to aretus above 59th Street.
31%J in residences, and from 0.03%J to
25%J in common areas. Estimated quartz
content in outdoor samples ranged from 1%J
to 27%J. Because quartz is a common material (i.e., silica sand), finding this mineral in the
city where there is a lot of concrete building material is not unusual. However, quartz in
dust from the comparison areas above 59th Street was estimated from nondetect to 1%J in
the common areas and from nondetect to 2%J in the residences. Figure 16 shows the
locations where the estimated maximum quartz content in settled surface dust was greater
than or similar to estimated quartz content in the dust samples from the comparison areas
above 59th Street. Fifteen residences, six common areas, and 12 outdoor areas had
estimated quartz levels higher than the associated comparison areas above 59th Street.
Therefore, quartz was elevated in some indoor areas of lower Manhattan relative to the
comparison areas above 59th Street. Outdoor dust samples were not taken from the
comparison areas, due to insufficient amounts of dust. Figures 13-16 compare the indoor
and outdoor locations in lower Manhattan to the indoor samples above 59th to show the
relative distribution of the minerals.
Calcite (calcium carbonate) and portlandite (calcium hydroxide) are also components of
concrete. They occurred with similar frequency in the dust samples and were often co
located with the quartz. Calcite ranged from an estimated 0.8%J to 19%J in outdoor areas,
and from 0.02%J to 21%J in indoor areas. Portlandite ranged from an estimated 0.07%J to
6%J in outdoor areas and from 0.04%J to 8%J in indoor areas. In contrast, the maximum
levels found in indoor comparison areas above 59th Street were 0.9%J calcite and 0.08%J
portlandite. Figures 13 and 15 show the locations where the estimated calcite and
portlandite content in settled surface dust was higher than to that estimated in dust samples
from the comparison areas above 59th Street. For calcite, 13 residence and 9 common area
samples had estimated levels higher than those found in the comparison areas above 59th
Street. Similarly for portlandite, 17 residence and 9 common area samples were estimated
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NYC-WTC_000149722
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