Lead poisoning prevention fax transmittal, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document A' --v'— ■

Mr. Vincent McGowan BPCPC January 14, 2001 Page 5 of 5

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Colden has detennined that the concentrations of the eight elemental metals analyzed in the composite bulk soil samples collected from the West Thames Park are within general background levels for the Eastern United States as well as below- the NYSDEC’s recommended soil cleanup objectives and USEPA limits for Arsenic and Lead soil contamination.

Sulface Wipe Samples (METALS)

Of the five elemental metals analyzed in the eigltt surfrice wipe samples, only Lead has a regulatory limit for surface contamination. The limit for Lead is set by the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) and the USEPA at 40 micrograms per square foot (ug/sq.ft.) on floor surfaces, 250 ug/sq.ft. on widow sills and 400 ug/'sq.ft. on x^indow wells as a clearance criterion for lead-based paint abatement activities. The clearance criteria is compared to the average of all surface wipe samples collected from each separate surface type.

Colden has chosen the floor surfaces clearance criteria for Lead (40 ug/sq.ft.) as a criterion for determining the extent of Lead contamination at the West Thames Park, as it is tlie most stringent regulatory limit currently available.

The average of tlie four surface wipes for Lead was 26.925 ug/sq.ft. This average is well below the NYCDOH and USEPA limit.

Arsenic was found to be ND or “None Detected in three o f four surface wipe samples. Arsenic was detected in the fourth wipe sample collected on the concrete footing pad under the play structure (36.0 ug/sq.ft.). Arsenic is commonly used as a preservative for pressure treated wood used in play structures, which may be the source of the arsenic that was detected. The wooden structure is coated with a sealant, which according to a study presented by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reduces arsenic availability from play structures by 90 to 95%. Colden does not believe the presence of Arsenic on the concrete footing pad is of concern, as it will be covered with over a foot of new sand prior to the reopening of the park.

Results of all four surface wipe samples for Cadmium were ND or “None Detected”,

Chromium was detected in all four surface wipes. The results ranged from 6.89 to 35.5 ug/sq.ft. there arc no current federal, state or local standards for Chromium surface contamination, the presence of Chromium would be expected in the samples based on the metal and plastic substrates they were collected from. Chromium is a common element used in metal manufacturing and pigments. It is also a component of wood preservatives along with arsenic. The Chromium concentrations found can be attributed to the playground products themselves as opposed to external the World Trade Center collapse.

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