NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
For residences, to run fans or air conditioning units as would normally be used on a daily
basis during the duration of the sampling;
/ Complete a questionairre provided by EPA;
Z Allow EPA to collect and analyze wipe and vacuum samples; and
z Sign an access agreement provided by EP A
1.
Background samples will consist of the following:
Air samples collected from pumps running eight-hours in each residential unit and from
the common areas of die building;
Low-suction vacuum samples from carpets, fabric ftimiture. and/or drapes, in each
residential unit and the common areas, if available;
Wipe samples of dust from horizontal surfaces of tab’es, counters, bare floors, and walls
and ceilings;
Samples from individual air conditioner units and/or from the air conditioning/heating unit
for the entire building.
Sampling instruments will run for eight hours in selected common areas and residential units.
EPA’s contractor will stay outside the residential units or near the common areas as they are being
sampled. The contractor will check the pumps hourly to ensure that they are working properly.
If you volunteer to have your home or building tested, EPA requests that you or your authorized
representative be present during the sampling. For sampling in the common areas of the building,
the owner or his or her authorized representative may decide whether or not to be present.
Costs for the background study are being paid by the federal government.
EPA will analyze each of the samples collected for asbestos and lead. Wipe samples will also be
analyzed for dioxins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), silica, calcite, gypsum, man-made
fibers (such as fibrous glass), and total dust. Indoor air samples will also be analyzed for silica,
calcite, gypsum, and man-made fibers (such as fibrous glass). Analysis of the samples is expected
to take eight to twelve weeks to complete. Once the study is complete, EPA will distribute
written sampling results to the participants. The sampling results will be provided to the
participants prior to publication as part of a general, data base. The names of the participants will
be kept confidential.
To volunteer to participate in the background study, please contact Carol Lynes at (212) 637-3585.
For more information, contact Ben Barry at (212) 637-3651.
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NYC-WTC_000149893
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