New York Times article on physician assessment of asbestos risk,

NYC-WTC_000151980 The uily News THE EPA VOWs housing cieanup By GREG GITTRICH DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Bowing to angry tenants and homeowners near Ground Zero, the Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday it would test and clean apartments potentially tainted with ashestos frol the destruc- tion of the World Trade Center. The federal agency's decision about their futures," said Jane to clean as many as 15,000 Kenny, EPA regional administra- apartments south of Canal St. tor. "There is no emergency represents & dramatic flip-flop here." in policy. However, at the same news The agency had argued that conference, Rep. Jerrold Nadler landlords and homeowners (D-Manhattan) said, "Lots of sci- were responsible for the task. entific data supports that there Despite the about-face, the are real problems." EPA and city environmental offi- 'Going to deal with It' cials maintained yesterday that "The important thing is we no health emergency exists. are going to deal with it now," They said the sweeping new pro- said Nadler, who had battled, gram is being carried out large- along with Sen. Hillary Clinton ly to ease fears of those who live (D-N.Y.), to force the EPA to near Ground Zero. clean homes near the disaster "While the scientific data site. about any immediate health By June 1, people concerned risks from indoor air is very re that their homes are tainted assuring, people should not with asbestos will be able to call have to live with uncertainty a hotline and get city-certified E AFTERMATH Thnday, 5fal02 ONASTER DAILY NEWS CLEANUP TARGET Approximately 15,000 apartments south of Canal St., Including bulldings near North End Aro,, will be cleaned and tested for asbostos by the Envtronmental Protection Agency. contractors to test and clean ists Sept 11. But the program proofing in at least 37 floors of their apartments. will test only for asbestos. the south tower. Testing will be conducted af- Nadier argued that the clean- The Federal Emergency Man- ter — not before - an apart- ing should be done building by agement Agency is picking up ment is cleaned. Officials said building — not unit by unit - to the tab for the program, which does not include nonresidential the cleaning should remove oth- avoid "a threat of recontamina- er contaminants, such as lead tion." spaces such as schools. riofessional cleaning costs and mercury, released into the Inhaling asbestos can cause about $1.50 per sauare foot. But air when the towers collapsed af- chronic lung disease and can- the tab can quadruple if asbes- ter they were attacked by terror- cer. The fiber was used as fire- tos is detected. NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document