Analysis of very fine and coarse particulate levels at WTC

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

JAN-2b-2002 FKl 09:41 AH FAX NO. P. 12 PiMi-Pisj^iUh: NY olTiclnls iiAilRresliii'kAie ibuigar

hc.iltli hazard which would produce asbestosis, lung cancer and mcsulhcliomiu This was due, in pari, to the fad that ihc microscopes of that period couldn't easily detect filters that small. Also, government asbestos regulations, which have always been heavily InFluonccd by the asbestos Industry, discounted the toxicity of short fibers.

"I don't even know whether BPA know.? the very small fibers arc there, but to say that small libers tire not dangerous dories logic,” Granger said. "In most of the autopsies on asbestos victims, ihc predominance of fibers we see are small, arc under five microns."

All ihc agencies play down the importance of test results that found dust samples that contained less ihcn 1 percent astwstos.

"They keep calling it U trace. This implies to the public that there is no hazard from it," said Ur. Jerrold Abraham, director of environmental and occupational pathology al Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

"If you're talking about pure chrysotile asbestos, there arc 10 billion or more fibers per gnun, or ubotil a fifth of a teaspoon.

"Their whole measuring and reporting system needs to be made more honest."

The P.PA's Bellow tried to answer the criticism.

"We didn't see ourselves n.s Ihc primary source for information on what the health implications Wore. We’re not a health agency," she said, adding that these arc national issues that El’A headquarters should be addresaing. But headquarters bus'repeatedly declined to discuss these policy issues, even though before Sept. 11, the P.PA was in lurrnop over how lo handle several .asbestos problems throughout the nation.

Grangcf, who has studied the importance of risk communicniion, said the ball was dropped.

"We arc miking about the very lives of these people and those they love," he said. "Because of tho inlslcadine or completely Inaccurate govcmmeht.lnfomiation nnd guidance, people don't know where to turn dr whom lo trust." Meanwhile, skirting Moiuby, N YCOSH, the unions' medical gi'oup, will make doctors and proper asbestos safety equipment available lo the day laborers who arc cleaning many buildings and apartments.

Later in the week, the city heaJlh department is expected to release its findings on the safety of . apartment residents. Those who have seen the draft predict that the report will do little to end tho . controversy on Iho risk New Yorkers face front asbestos.

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