CDC press conference notes regarding anthrax investigation, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document Dr. John Agwunobi nicable agent that might have been re­ But many experts have criticized the answers questions leased. After anthrax was detected in Flor­ C.D.C. for remaining largely silent about the about the ida, the epidemic service, which is based at anthrax threat Instead of providing more investigation in Palm the Centers for Disease Control and Preven­ detailed Information sooner to people who tion in Atlanta, set out to determine how the may have been exposed as well as to Beach County at a patient contracted the disease. The informa­ press conference. doctors and the public. tion is crucial in assessing the potential C.D.C. spokesmen have said they were Some experts say too harm to other people. restricted in disclosing information because few public health The second front is Informing the public of of provisions of the Federal Emergency officials have been the anthrax cases, the steps the C.D.C. is Response Act and because the F.B.I.’wds .-I willing to talk to the taking to combat the threat to public health, conducting a criminal investigation. ' press. and what people can do. That was so, said the C.D.C. director^ Dr. Much of the detection effort went well, Jeffrey P. Koplan, even though the centere 41 though there were disturbing glitches like a power failure at the C.D.C. that delayed the Continued on Page 7 ;« < Associated Press

After Attacks, Studies of Dust and Its Effects- Dr. R. Hugh Granger of. By ANDREW C. REVKIN HP Environmental takra dust samples from a Despite a steady stream of data from building several blocks public agencies showing that the stubborn, north of the World Tra3e eye-stinging plumes of dust from the Center. Below, dust un-^ wrecked World Trade Center pose few risks, der a microscope: chryson thousands of people — residents and work­ ers in nearby neighborhoods, firefighters, L.... tile asbestos, top, and a^ charred wood fragment demolition crews, those who fled the attacks .am — say they still fear for their health. it’s no wonder, given the images of volca­ no-size clouds and ghostly coatings of white dust that are etched in the collective memo­ ry of the attacks. And an alphabet soup of federal, state and city agencies have issued confusing information on Web sites or in press releases — particularly about asbes­ tos, which was used in building one of the towers and whose fibers can cause cancer. Different agencies used different stand­ ards and measurements when describing the levels of this mineral in air and dust. Private testing firms, in a few samples, used yet another set of methods and, not surprisingly, produced different results. After the rush of emergency responses and hasty testing done in a crisis, dozens of scientists from universities, medical Piotr Chmieltaskl/HP Environmental Images by MVAIpc, schools and private firms have begun an intensive search for any lingering medical effects from the attacks. hints of problems that may be related to But many of the scientists involved in the Some laboratories are testing soot fil­ exposure to the fumes and dust. And scien­ studies say it is important to probe deeper, . tered from the air to see if it contains any tists are sifting through the environmental both by analyzing the substances relea^ unusually toxic ingredients, like metals or tests done by a host of public agencies to in the fires and collapses and by monitoring dioxins. Others are teasing out the micro­ translate the flood of data into something the health of people exposed to them. scopic contents of dust scooped from sills, less confusing to residents and workers. “We have not yet seen anything that floors and rubble heaps in downtown Man­ For the moment, almost all of the inde­ would tell you it’s dangerous, but we don^t hattan. pendent research jibes with the core finding know everything yet,’’ said Dr. George .b. In the meantime, public health experts of federal, state and city health and environ­ Thurston, a professor of environmental are drawing up plans to recruit some of the mental officials: that only people working medicine at the New York University School hundreds of pregnant women they estimate for a prolonged period in the 16-acre attack of Medicine, which is analyzing dust and were among the tens of thousands of people site face a significant health risk, and then soot from the trade center in a laboratory in ■ at or near ground zero the morning of Sept. only if they are not wearing protective Sterling Forest, in Tuxedo, N.Y. “We’re nbt 11. Their goal is to closely monitor mater­ masks and clothing. Outside that zone, there nal, fetal and child health, looking for any is Uttle chance of significant harm, they say. Continued on Page 2

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