Asbestos air sampling results, Sep 26 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document I YI..1 . v./l LaL . L.i va. v ve..v a va av . v•

Preliminary Report on the "I&S Evacuation of the Fresh 1Kllls Landfill Project Supporting the WTC Disaster Recovery

LEN .C ! . ! . y. . •

On 27 September, 2001, representatives of Emilcott Associates, Inc. (Dale Wilson, CIFI, Doug Ogden and Bruce Groves, CIH) conducted a walkthrougb survey of the Fresh Kill Landfill operation supporting the WTC disaster. Emilcott was asked by the NYPI) Detectives Endowment Association (DI!A) to conducted a 3' party evaluation of the operation to identify areas that may impact the health and safety of the NYPD detectives working at the landfill.

Etnilcott recognizes that this is an emergency operation responding to a horrific disaster where many lives have been lost. Overall, we were highly impressed and humbled by the energy and willingness of all personnel involved in this operation to get the job dohs and to do the right thing. Everyone also showed their commitment to make continual improvements in the health and safety procedures of the operation to: improve the quality of life for the people onsite; follow good health and safety practices; and meet basic compliance to health end safety regulations and requirements. The cooperation displayed by all members of the NYPD and other agencies_ we spoke with was extraordinary.

The comments and recommendations presented below focus on items that need immediate attention and are designed to make the greatest improvements to the health and safety program ofNYPD personnel working at this operation.

]. Personal air sampling of FBI agents performing similar tasks to NYPD personnel (taking debris) showed asbestos levels greater than the OSHA Permissible Exposure Level •PEL (0.1 fibers/cc - for an $•hour period or 0.067 fibe&cc for a 12-hour period). Twenty-one (2 1) personnel air samples for asbestos were taken by Public Health Service (PUS) industrial hygienists. Twelve (57%) of these samples had results greater then the OSHA 12-hour PEL (permissible exposure limit) for asbestos. The samples were taken on 18 and 19 September and the results were reported to the FBI on 25 September, but not given to the NYPD 'z until Emilcon's review on 27 September 2001.

This data underscores the fact that this debris has the potential to produce significant asbestos exposures.

There has been no exposure assessment (air sampling) data that can determine the expected exposures to asbestos, dust, and other contaminants to detectives performing the the NYPD various tasks in this operation. Emilcott four-hour air samples (NYPD personnel and area conducted six samples) for asbestos on 27 September. The results ranged from non-detected to 33% PIS,,. of the 12-hour OSHA

NYC-WTC 000150214