DEP Invoice or Financial Record, September 30, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

ease has a latent period of DC 37 Eves Offices between 15 and 30 years. Both lung cancer and meso­ thelioma, a cancer of the

Asbestos Hazard At pleural lining exclusively re­ lated to asbestos exposure, can also result. Those who smoke and suffer asbestos Rescue Site Feared exposure are particularly vulnerable to lung cancer. In addition to seeking to protect the health of those By WILLIAM VAN AUKEN uniformed service workers As rescue and recovery ef­ deployed on and around “the forts continue at the World pile," public employee unions Trade Center disaster site have voiced concerns about and as city employees begin the safety of their members going back to work in lower who are being called back to Manhattan, union officials work in nearby office build- i and health and safetv advo­ ings. cates have expressed grow­ District Council 37 health ing concern about possible and safety representatives environmental contamina­ met with city and state offi­ tion from the cloud of smoke cials Sept. 20 to discuss plans and dust that descended over to reopen a number of office the area. buildings that may have The city’s Health Depart­ been affected by the disaster. ment issued a statement last “We are extremely con­ week calling the level of as­ cerned about asbestos and bestos in the air “below the other possible contami­ threshold of concern,” and nants,” said Lee Clarke, sen­ assured the public that the ior safety coordinator for DC “risks for any short or long BILL HENNING: Asbestos 37. “We want to be very com­ term adverse health effects not only worry. fortable that these buildings are very low.” are really ready to be re­ cupied and surrounded by a opened and that the city is Workers Have Doubts chain-link fence. While not moving prematurely.’’ workers hosed down win­ Por city employees and dows and doors on the first Safety Precautions others working near the di­ floor, upper story windows saster site, however, the con­ are still coaled with a layer The Giuliani administra­ cern IS verv real. of rain-streaked ash and tion, she said, has developed that 20 to 30 dust. a series of protocols to deter­ \r=rs :ror.. now. you're going Cp tne biu^K. -I -National mine if a building is fit to be to have a O^t of cops and fire­ Guardsman said he was also reoccupied. These include fighters coming down with worried about contamination both inspection for struc­ cancer from the stuff we're in the air he is breathing. He tural stability as well as an breathing m here." said one was ecuipped with a mask, assessment of any presence Police Officer guarding 40 but was not using it. “I was of hazardous materials as a Recto.'- St., a city office build­ in there for 24 hours straight result of the Trade Center ing just blocks from the using a mask.” he said. "Af­ collapse. smoldering remains of the ter a while, you can't take it The protocols, she said, Twin Towers. anymore. Tliey're uncomfort­ have been evaluated and ap­ His partner, who suffers able and you can’t talk.” proved by the state Public . from asthma, said she has Health and safety experts Employee Safety and Health experienced increased diffi­ have recommended the use Division. culty breathing while as­ of respirators with rub­ “This is a highly, highly signed to the area and is con­ berized masks and replace­ unusual situation,” said Ms. stantly using her inhaler. able cartridges for those in­ Clarke. She added that the 'W'hen asked if they had been volved in work at Ground union would monitor which supplied with masks, both of- Zero. Disposable respirators buildings were approved for : ficers said no. reopening by the city and The building itself is unoc- (Continued on Page 11) would send in its own inspec­ tors immediately thereafter. DC 37 has developed its Aj! ‘^\Con tinned from Page 1)

should be replaced after each own checklist for health and safety, and will send its safe­ ty representatives on inspec­ shift or whenever breathing tions throughout the week. through them becomes diffi­ The union was planning on cult. going to buildings Sept. 24 In practice, however, many that the city has already of the workers have gone opened, including 1 Centre without any protection, St. and 66 John St. while others have donned only dust masks, which pro­ Err OU Cautious Side vide no protection from as­ bestos, silica and other haz­ “We’re trying to be proac­ ardous particles. tive rather than reactive,” said Ms. Clarke. “We don’t Long-Term Damage want to be in a situation where we find out that a Prolonged exposure to as­ building is unsafe after bestos paurticies can result in they’ve moved people in. and asbestosis, a scarring of the then have to pull them out.” lung, which progressively re­ The New York Committee stricts breathing. The dis-

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