NYC-WTC_000152373

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

fcbestos levels in Ground Zero air generally safe, EPA records show By AUSOW GENDAR EPA officials, criticized for But Levin and other experts and SUSAN FERRARO not releasing the air sample find­ said short-term asbestos expo­ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS sure is not likely to result in seri­ Air samples taken from lower ings sooner, said the agency ous health problems. Those Manhattan three days after the needed time to analyze the data. most at risk are workers who World Trade Center coUapsed Cervantes said the EPA would handle the stuff daily for years showed asbestos levels that release tests taken Sept. 11 to and smokers. They risk lung­ only occasionally exceeded per­ 13 in the next few days. Those scarring, asbestosis — the in­ tests will be scrutinized closely flammation of lung tissue — missible levels, according to fed­ and cancer. eral inspection records. because they closely followed the collapse of the towers. Since the towers fell Sept. 11, city and federal officials have The Daily News reported yes­ said rescue workers faced mini­ terday that tests by independent experts of dust samples around mal risk from the fetid, debris- the Trade Center ruins found filled dust. Mayor Giuliani re­ air mixed with dangerous levels peated those assurances yester­ day, calling air quality “safe and of asbestos and fiberglass and acceptable.” even human bone particles. On Initial asbestos readings from Sept. 19. four of 10 dust tests 16 sites taken by t^ Environ­ found that 2% to 5% of the speci­ mental Protection‘Agency from mens contained asbestos. Sept. 14 to 24 largely confirmed those assurances. The EPA and the Occupation­ Of more than 500 air samples al Safety and Health Administra­ taken, 15 exceeded federal lim­ tion agree that any material con­ its for asbestos, according to the taining 1% asbestos officially EPA records released last night. triggers federal rules for em­ There were occasional spikes ployee protection and cleanup. in the EPA’s air tests, such as Air samples like those taken Sept. 14, when asbestos levels by the EPA are considered a bet- at Barclay St. and West Broad­ way hit 133 fibers per cubic mil­ ter safety indicator than dust limeter, nearly twice the al­ samples. Asbestos in dust or lowed level of 70 fibers. Anoth­ chunks is not dangerous unless er spike came Sept. 15 at liber­ it becomes airborne. If inhaled, ty St. and South End Ave., when the fibers can embed them­ asbestos readings hit 150. selves deep in the lungs and “As we have been saying, cause serious illnesses. there was not a significant risk, Dr. Stephen Levin, head of even in the early days,” said Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Selikoff Center for Occupation­ EPA spokeswoman Mary Helen al and Environmental Medicine, Cervantes, though she said res­ said there is no safe level for as­ cue workers should continue to bestos. wear protective gear. But the vast majority of the “There is always some in­ samples showed levels of the crease in the risk of cancer in cancer-causing agent well any exposure to asbestos,” he below levels that EPA officials said. said trigger concern. Nearly ai; asbestos levels have fallen since Sept. 14.

<^/di9/0l NYC-WTC_000152386