DEP Invoice or Financial Record, September 30, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

The chemical reaction that gen­ erates phosgene is possible in ex­ Dust- is,.. tremely hot flames, but not in fires like those still burning, agency offi­ cials said. Any gas generated by the initial inferno has dissipated, they said. When rescue crews preptire to enter buried pockets where survi­ vors might be found, they generally test the air for organic compounds like freon, which can be suffocating because it is heavier than air and can build up in pockets, officials

said. Suspect air samples are sent to a mobile laboratory for analysis. Dr; Cohen said that continual monitoring of the crash site and rubble with Geiger coimters had tamed up no evidence of radiation, which might be emitted, for exam­ ple, from medical X-ray equipment destroyed in the attacks. Many officials and experts added that the decomposing bodies of vic­ tims of the attacks posed no danger. “A dead body is not going to give you a disease,” said Dr. Paul Blake, the state epidemiologist for Geor­ gia. Dr. Blake, who was chief of the enteric diseases branch at the fed­ eral Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, added, “You have a multiplication of bacteria in decom­ posing bodies, but they are the same i bacteria we all have within us, in i our bodies and on our skin.” ] To try to catch any surprises, the Environmental Protection Agency James Estrti/nie New York Times deployed monitoring and testing John Kessler and Julia, his 7-year-old daughter, took precautions so equipment around Lower Manhat­ tan over the weekend, including a they could breathe easier when the air was tainted by smoke. mobile laboratory used during the Persian Gulf war to check for gas were done for air inside buildings in Mount Sinai School of Medicine, gen­ or biological attacks, officials said. the financial district. erally agreed with the federal offi­ There were no signs that the at­ “Our tests show that it is safe for cials’ views, adding that rescue tackers had dispersed any toxic New Yorkers to go back to work,” workers who did not wear protec­ agents, officials said, and the lab­ said a statement from John L. Hen­ tive gear ran the highest risk. oratory was focused on identifying shaw, the assistant secretary of La­ Dr. Landrigan, who has often conventional kinds of pollution. bor for occupational health. “Keep­ worked to highlight health dangers Many dust samples collected near ing the streets clean and being care­ in the environment, said the public the attack site last week contained 1 ful not to track dust into buildings faced little risk. “People who live in percent to 2 percent asbestos, agen­ will help protect workers from re­ Lower Manhattan and who work cy officials said. That concentration maining debris.” there are certainly going to be ex­ is not high enough to create a short­ term risk of lung disease, the offi­ Over the weekend the Environ­ posed to dust,” he said. The dust, cials said. Nonetheless, the agency mental Protection Agency parked from pulverized building materials. sent 10 trucks into the area over the five air sampling systems near the could cause bronchitis or asthma weekend equipped with filtered vac­ crash site and put another one on attacks in children or vulnerable uums that suck up contaminants Canal Street to monitor any drift adults, he said. without spreading them. uptown. The systems will measure “But having said all that,” he- For residents and people working asbestos, lead, PCB’s and other added, “I don’t think we are looking nearby, the air appeared to present harmful compounds during the at a situation that is in any way life­ little risk, officials of the Occupa­ cleanup, agency officials said. Other threatening.” tional Safety and Health Adminis­ samples were being taken at estab­ Some office workers were taking tration said. The agency sent crews lished pollution monitoring stations no chances. One woman rode the around the financial district late in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. commuter train from Westchester last week wearing small devices Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, the chair­ County yesterday morning carry­ that sample air and found no^ignifi- man of the department of communi­ ing a personal air-filtering machioe cant signs of asbestos. Other tests ty and preventive medicine at the for her office in the city.

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