CDC press conference notes regarding anthrax investigation, undated

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

THE NEW YORK TIMES, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 16, 2001

After Terrorist Attacks, Studies c Continued From First Science Page

content with just saying that because it’s within the standard that means everything’s fine, let’s go back and live our lives,” Dr. Thurston said. “We’re saying this is not the end of things. This is the beginning. We’re going to follow these populations.” Much of the work is taking place at half a dozen universities and medical I schools around New York that have I research centers operating under the auspices of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Oth­ er tests of the smoke and dust are being done by private laboratories hired by companies overseeing the demolition, to ensure that their work­ ers are safe. Ozler Muhammad/The New York Times Separate long-term health studies Shao-I Hsu, a graduate student in environmental medicine, collecting are being undertaken by New York data on air quality at Hunter College’s Brookdale Campus in New York. City’s Fire Department, which sent almost every one of its 11,000 fire­ fighters and 3,500 emergency medi­ cal technicians to the attack site in the first week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided a $5 million grant last week to help city and state officials monitor air quality in Lower Manhattan, test the air in private homes and offices, track mold and pollen counts in the area to assess their relative contribution to any breathing problems and examine hospital records to see if asthma or I other respiratory ailments rose after the attacks. (So far, the only report­ ing is anecdotal, and it shows no discernible increase in asthma.) Some of the money would be fo­ cused on preventing and treating Il asthma, which reached epidemic Nancy Siesel/The New York Times proportions in New York in the late New York firefighters who were at the World Trade Center site, 199O’s, particularly among poor chil­ including Barry Albrecht, are being tested for the effects of dust. dren. "We must make sure asthma patients are cared for properly In the aftermath of the World Trade Center mental and labor agencies and city .edu/rc/response.shtml) to commu­ attacks,” the health and human serv- officials use different standards and nicate findings, along with informa­ ices secretary. Tommy G. Thomp- tests to estimate risks. tion on how to limit contact with dust, son, said last week. “There’s so much information out as a common-sense precaution. Many of the researchers involved there in different forms,” said Laura Along with the Web site, Ms. Hem- in the Independent follow-up studies Hemmlnger, co-dlrector of commu- minger and other environmental say their goal Is not just to create a nity outreach for the New Jersey health experts in the New York re­ clearer picture of where any real program. “We need to compile it and gion are organizing meetings for res­ risks Ue, but also to get the message Put it together in a way that people idents concerned about possible across to exposed residents and can understand — and not just the health problems related to the at­ workers who have been confused and public, but health care providers, tack. The next meeting will be at 7:30 worried for weeks. too.” p.m. Thursday In New York Univer­ “If I were a member of the general She said the basic information on sity’s main building, at 24 Waverly pubUc, I would probably be scratch- how to deal with dust would continue Place. ing my head right now,” said Dr. to be Important for months to come. Firefighters should provide a good PaulJ.Lioy, the associate director of “As the cleanup process goes on, baseline for monitoring health prob­ the Environmental and Occupational more dust and debris will be kicked lems related to the building collapses Health Sciences Institute in Pis- up, so it’s important for people to because their health was already cataway, N.J., which is involved in know how to keep their exposure well monitored beforehand, depart­ the effort. reduced,” she said. ment medical officials said. So far, With asbestos, some of the confu- The New Jersey program has ero­ department doctors have taken chest sion exists because federal environ- ated a Web site (www.eohsi.rutgers X-rays and blood samples and

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