Analysis of very fine and coarse particulate levels at WTC

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

JAN-25-2002 FRI 09:40 AM FAX NO. P. 10 '• Posl-I NY ollliiwl* iinKereslirHOl* dungfcf

1 Ic wonders why the crews working on the street arc so meticulous, u.sing special micro-filter vaeuinna, wearing special protective clothing and respirators. But in his apartment, the three-person pickup band of tlay laborers the landlord hired used brooms, dustpans, old mops and buckets and everyday vacuum cleaners,

'They didn't even have imsksj' he said. "My wife had to find nia-sks for them."

Ho wondered what government officials knew about the dust Ihat they weren't .sharing.

"To those of us in Hw middle of this, lt'.s obvious that there is a eon.scious effort not to put out the facts," .said Swnney, who heads his building's tenant association, "1 don't know whether it's the While House, or the governor's mansion or ihc mayor'.s office, but .someone doesn't wont this tnilh about asbestos getting out.

"They don't want to close down lower Manhattan. We're talking .about a lot of money, a lot of JoU. That's OK, but Is it safe to live here?" Swiuiey and his wife moved out of lower Manhattan.

"Christie Whitman says it Rne to return to our home.s," he noted, "She’s the KPA boss. Should wo not believe her when she snys our apartments are safe'/ But how docs she know?"

'I hat’s a question that many arc starting to ask.

Ul’A SAYS rr CANT TBSl APARTMENTS AND OFFICES

None of the thousands of tests that the EPA cites as showing the asbestos risk is minimal were taken inside the buildings and rooms where people live, study and work.

"That'.s just not our job, and we have no policies or prrtcedui c.s for doing that type of testing," said Honnie Bellow, spokeswoman for iho EPA's region 11 office tn New York. "We'vo never had to wony about a.sbcsios iri houses before." Many people within the government said that when the buildings collapsed, the agencies grabbed the only "how to handle asbestos" book they had off the,shelves. But those regulations haven't been updated for ycotsi, rc^wdless of lire need repeatedly demonstmled by field Investigators for ft Jmlf-dozcn different agencies. "To ignore testing the indoor environment for asbestos defies logic," said Granger, the Virginia loxicologiat. "Outside, tire normal air movement dilutes and dissipnles asbcsics concentration, Inside, the fibers are trapped by four walls. They constantly get resuspended just by occupants v/alkliiR on carpels, closing the drapes or having the air conditioner or heat go on or off."

DAD INFORMATION FROM THE START I’oliticinns, administrators of state and federal agencies and their spoke,speoplc gave conflicting information and suggestions, sometimes in the same siaicmcni or news conference. Newspaper, radio, television and Web .sites were filled with questionable guidance. In October, the KPA and OSHA were still putting out information to residents saying that if dust front the collapsed towers was ip homes or offices "people should be sure to clean thoroughly and avoid Inhaling dust while doing so."

Oaf/ 1/11/02 11:38 A

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